§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce US-style drug courts; and if he will make a statement. [30048]
§ Mr. McLeishNo. Courts can already take account of drug misuse by offenders by, for example, attaching a condition to a Probation Order requiring the offender to address his drug habit. It is also intended that Scottish courts will be able to impose drug treatment and testing orders, provision for which is contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill presently before Parliament. Under these orders serious offenders with drug dependency problems will be placed on specialist treatment programmes aimed at reducing or eliminating their dependency.