§ Mr. MalinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many random drugs tests in United Kingdom prisons proved positive; and how many prisoners found positive were subsequently charged with a criminal offence as a result of the test in the most recent year for which figures are available. [18991]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe number of random drug tests on prisoners which proved positive in England and Wales in 1996–97 was 13,797.
The use of illicit drugs is not a criminal offence as such. Consequently, there is no central record kept of prisoners who may have been charged with a criminal offence following a drug test.
A prisoner whose drug test is positive will generally be charged with a disciplinary offence under Prison Rules. Data held centrally do not separate charges concerning random mandatory drug tests from charges following positive results from the other aspects of the mandatory drug testing programme. In 1996–97, there were 21,588 mandatory drug tests in total which were positive. Disciplinary proceedings under Prison Rule 47 or Young Offender Institution Rule 50, "administering a controlled drug or failing to prevent its administration", followed in 16,757 cases.