§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many convictions there were for drug-related offences among armed forces personnel in the latest year for which data are available. [121332]
§ Mr. CaplinThe number of convictions under the Service Discipline Acts for drug related offences in each of the three Services for the calendar year 2002 is as follows:946W
Number Naval Service 9 Army 11 RAF 5 It is not possible to determine whether drugs misuse played an aggravating factor in other criminal offences without examining each individual case file. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.
§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of each of the armed forces tested positive for the use of controlled substances in the latest year for which data are available(a) as a proportion of those tested and (b) by substance. [121333]
§ Mr. CaplinThe details are as follows.
Number The Naval Service Numbers tested 12,901 Numbers positive 43 Percentage positive 0.33 Substance detected Cocaine 9 Ecstasy 8 Cannabis 29 Amphetamine 2 Benzos 1 Total 49 Army Numbers tested 88,946 Numbers positive 534 Percentage positive 0.60 Substance detected Cannabis 278 Ecstasy 141 Cocaine 107 Amphetamines 44 Others 16 Total 586 RAF Numbers tested 10,569 Numbers positive 10 Percentage positive 0.095 Substance detected Ecstasy 3 Cannabis 8 Cocaine 1 Total 12 It should be noted that the number of substances detected is greater than the number of individuals due to positive tests for more than one substance.