§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average cost of(a) a litmus test and (b) laboratory analysis of urine taken for drug-testing purposes in prisons; [89473]
(2) what plans he has to expand the use of litmus tests in mandatory drug testing in prisons. [89472]
§ Mr. George HowarthRecent contacts with companies marketing non-instrumented drug test devices (litmus tests) capable of testing for a group of drug types suggests that an average price of £6 per device would apply. The precise cost to the Prison Service for laboratory screening a similar group of drug types is commercial in confidence, although I can advise that it is comparable to that figure. However, if the result from a test is disputed, a more sophisticated and considerably more expensive confirmation test has to be carried out by a laboratory in order to meet the required standard of proof. The Prison Service uses laboratory screening because it produces the most reliable and consistent results and so minimises the number of confirmation tests required. For this reason the Prison Service does not authorise the use of non-instrumented drug test devices in mandatory drug testing.