HC Deb 24 February 2003 vol 400 c329W
Mr. Norman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision in prisons of sniffer dogs for the purpose of preventing drug use. [98521]

Hilary Benn

The availability of specialist drug dogs within the Prison Service has increased significantly following investment from the Comprehensive Spending Review 1997 and Spending Review 2000. All prisons now have access to both active and passive drug dogs. There are currently 261 active drug dogs and 212 passive drug dogs deployed across the Prison Service.