HC Deb 30 November 1995 vol 267 cc882-3W
21. Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of British prisons illegal drugs have been detected in the last year. [1376]

Mrs. Widdecombe

Illegal drugs have been detected in all but two Prison Service establishments in England and Wales during the period 1 November 1994 to 31 October 1995.

This means that drugs have been detected in 98.5 per cent. of establishments.

Mr. Austin-Walker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the number of prisoners using drugs. [1375]

Miss Widdecombe

It is too early in the implementation of mandatory drug testing to be able to give an accurate assessment of the number of prisoners misusing drugs.

Figures from the eight first phase sites show 36 per cent. confirmed positive drug tests, but this cannot be extrapolated to the total population.