HL Deb 26 February 1998 vol 586 cc113-4WA
Lord Islwyn

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which areas have been chosen to pilot the proposal in the Crime and Disorder Bill [H.L.] to introduce a drug treatment and testing order.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

My honourable Friend the Member for Gateshead East and Washington West (Joyce Quin) announced in a speech to a conference in York organised by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation on 25 February 1998 that the pilots will take place under the management of Merseyside, South-East London and Gloucestershire Probation Services.

Thirty-six probation areas expressed an interest in managing the pilot of the drug treatment and testing order. All the proposals were well thought-out and enthusiastic and the choice was therefore far from clear cut.