HC Deb 17 December 1998 vol 322 cc736-7W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug free units there are in England and Wales; if he will list the prisons in which they operate; and if he will make a statement. [63670]

Mr. George Howarth

As part of the implementation of its Drug Strategy, the Prison Service is planning the expansion of provision of voluntary testing units from April 1999 onwards. Included in the programme of work is a specification for voluntary testing units and an analysis of the existing provision. The information requested will be available towards the end of this financial year.

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of reported drug use there were in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales(a) in each of the last 12 months and (b) in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [63685]

Mr. George Howarth

Provisional information for 1998 showing the number of drugs offences by prisoners proved at prison adjudication are given in the table. In addition, 831 prison visitors were arrested for drug related incidents at a prison in England and Wales between January and September 1998. Figures for prison visitors arrested for drug offences for the last 5 years are shown in the table.

Information regarding the number of drugs offences proved at prison adjudication are published in "Prison statistics England and Wales" (table 8.5 of the 1997 edition, cm 4017) and before 1997 in successive volumes of "Statistics of offences against prison discipline and punishments England and Wales" (tables 8 and 9 for 1994–96 and tables 11 and 12 for 1992–93). Copies of these publications are in the Library.

Number of drugs offences proved at adjudication in prisons in England and Wales—January to September 1998
Offence Number
Refusal to provide a drug test sample 326
Falsifying a drug test sample 35
Unauthorised use of controlled drug 11,902
Possession of unauthorised drug 2,402
Sells/delivers drugs to person 69
Total 14,734
Visitors to prisons arrested for drug related offences
Year Number
1993 310
1994 921
1995 1,410
1996 1,270
1997 1,130
1998 (January-September) 831