§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date random drug tests were introduced for service personnel; if he will set for out each regiment the number of positive test results for each major category of illegal drugs; how many(a) soldiers and (b) officers have been subjected to disciplinary action; and how many have been discharged from the services as a result. [117254]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 10 April 2000]: Random compulsory drug testing (CDT) was introduced fully in the Army on 2 May 1995, in the Naval Service on 1 April 1997 and in the RAF on 1 November 1998. The Services regard drug taking as a matter of the utmost seriousness and a positive test will, in most cases, lead to an administrative discharge from the Service. The table shows, by category of illegal drug, the number of positive drug test results, following a compulsory drug test, recorded by other ranks in each of the three Services. No officer has tested positive in any of the Services since CDT was introduced. The second table also records those who have been subsequently administratively discharged.
§ Mr. KirkwoodThe costs of meetings of the Welsh Grand Committee at Westminster are not separately identified. In 1998–99 the Committee met once away from Westminster, at Aberaeron, in February 1999. Additional costs to the House of that meeting were £6,417.12.
In respect of the Welsh Affairs Committee, the Committee incurred the following costs during the financial year 1998–99:
95W
Costs incurred £ Overseas visits 12,646.22 UK visits 21,426.20 Specialist Advisers' Fees and Expenses 10,375.83 Work commissioned, specialist publications, interpretation 884.20 Transcription of evidence 26,224.24 Witnesses' expenses 802.79 Total 72,359.48 Staff costs are not separately identified. Details of the work of the Committee may be found in the Sessional Return for 1998–998, HC 1.