HC Deb 17 December 1998 vol 322 c728W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his present policy on introducing needle exchanges in prisons. [64318]

Mr. George Howarth

We have no present plans to introduce a needle exchange scheme in prisons in England and Wales. The arguments in favour are counter-balanced by the risk of increasing the number of needles in circulation and undermining the need to deter and prevent drug misuse. The Prison Service, however, continues to monitor developments in the field, both at home and abroad.