HC Deb 21 January 1998 vol 304 cc585-6W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have been deployed to the Firearms Compensation Section; and if he will increase the number in order to accelerate payments under the compensation scheme. [24137]

Mr. Michael

The full staff complement for the Firearms Compensation Section had been set at 52 persons. It was not possible to maintain the initial full complement of 52 staff because of normal staff turnover. Whenever staff of

Table A: Positive random mandatory drug tests, first quarter 1996–97 to second quarter 1997–98
Durg type April-June 1996 July-September 1996 October-December 1996 January-March 1997 April-June 1997 July-September 1997 Totals
Cannabis 2,723 2,746 2,947 3,046 2,996 2,490 16,948
Opiates 680 840 838 734 615 618 4,325
Others1 348 289 274 330 318 259 1,818
Total tested 13,594 13,858 14,244 14,946 14,946 14,915 86,503
1 The other drugs tested for are; cocaine, methadone, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates and, optionally, LSD.

Table B: Random mandatory drug tests, percentages positive for cannabis, opiates and other drugs First quarter 1996–97 to second quarter 1997–98
Drug type April-June 1996 July-September 1996 October-December1996 January-March 1997 April-June 1997 July-September 1997 Overall
Cannabis 20.0 19.8 20.7 20.4 20.0 16.7 19.6
Opiates 5.0 6.1 5.9 4.9 4.1 4.1 5.0
Others1 2.6 2.1 1.9 2.2 2.1 1.7 2.1
1 The other drugs tested for are; cocaine, methadone, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates and, optionally, LSD.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the proportion of illegal drugs discovered in random tests in prisons for which the source was(a) relatives of inmates visiting the prison, (b) others visiting the prison, (c) prison staff and (d) other sources, in the past three years. [24047]

Mr. George Howarth

There are no centrally compiled figures from which such an estimate could be drawn, and obtaining such an estimate could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

the Firearms Compensation Unit leave or move on, it is our policy to replace them as quickly as possible. At present, efforts at recruiting additional staff are in hand as part of a range of measures to deal with the outstanding payments as quickly as possible. Data processing staff are being introduced to help with the initial registration of claims, allowing the existing staff to concentrate more on processing and authorising payments. Overtime is also worked on a regular basis.