HC Deb 16 March 2004 vol 419 cc234-5W
Glenda Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) whether all schools are subject to random drug testing; [157803]

(2) whether parental permission for random drug testing will be a requirement before a child can obtain a place in a (a) junior and (b) secondary school; [157808]

(3) what estimate he has made of the costs incurred by schools in obtaining parental permission for random drug testing; [157811]

(4) whether random drug testing in schools includes (a) pupils, (b) teachers, (c) classroom assistants, (d) supply teachers, (e) school grounds staff, (f) maintenance staff and (g) kitchen staff; [157816]

(5) whether a child can be expelled if parental permission for random drug testing is not granted; [157813]

(6) whether random drug testing will take place in (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools, (c) breakfast school clubs and (d) after-school clubs; [157815]

(7) who will carry out the random drug tests in schools. [157817]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

"Drugs: Guidance to Schools" will be sent to all schools this month. The guidance highlights the option for schools to employ drug testing. The guidance applies to all maintained schools and pupil referral units in England. It is for headteachers to decide whether to employ drug testing—random or not.

A school's governing body decides on its behaviour policy. The head teacher has discretion to exclude pupils in response to serious breaches of this policy, taking individual circumstances into account.

Local education authorities and school governing bodies are responsible for deciding local school admission arrangements, but cannot make admission dependent on parents signing any form of parental declaration, which would include parental permission for random drug testing. Parental permission could form part of a home-school agreement between parents and schools. Home-school agreements cannot be made a condition of entry to any maintained school. Procedures on testing and sanctions should be contained in the school's drug policy and be developed through wide consultation with members of the school community.

Any costs of obtaining parental permission will of course depend on the decisions of individual heads as to how often, how and when to seek such permissions. For example if done through an existing system such as existing home-school contracts the costs will be close to zero. If a separate exercise were undertaken the costs would be likely to be higher. These will be matters for heads to consider in the light of their local circumstances.

It will be for schools to decide on the scope of drug testing taking into account the school's drug policy and the employment contracts of those working in the school. A school's drug policy should make clear to which activities the policy applies, including after school and out of school activities, and the scope of any drug testing strategy contained in the policy.

In cases where the carrying out of drug testing is considered appropriate, it will be for schools to decide how and by whom this should be done.