§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the cost of drug treatment and testing measures contained in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill. [125325]
§ Mr. BoatengThe current estimates are dependent upon the number of people who will be subject to the drug treatment and testing measures and their deterrence effect. The estimated annual cost for national implementation is in the range of £50 million to £80 million. This includes an estimate of the costs arising from possible increases in the prison population.
394WThe initial piloting of these drug testing proposals in three areas will provide further information of the costs.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he commissioned on which he based the plans for the Drug Abstinence Order contained in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill; and if he will make a statement. [125326]
§ Mr. BoatengThe use of drug testing to deter and monitor drug misuse in the proposed Drug Abstinence order is based on existing evidence from both America and this country. This includes the evaluation of programmes in Oregon showing that drug testing can be useful in supervising offenders in the community. The Prison Service's mandatory drug testing programme also demonstrates that testing can have a significant deterrent effect on drug misusers.
The drug testing proposals, including the Drug Abstinence Order, are to be piloted over two years and the outcomes fully evaluated. These evaluations will provide further material to inform the future use of Drug Abstinence Orders.