Written question asked by Humfrey Malins (Conservative) on Thursday, 22 March 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 March 2007. It was answered by Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour) on Monday, 16 April 2007 on behalf of the Home Office.

Drugs: Testing

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce (a) mandatory daily drug testing and (b) random drug testing for those defendants subject to a drug rehabilitation requirement under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Answer: There is already provision under section 209(1)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for the drug testing of offenders subject to a drug rehabilitation requirement of a community order or suspended sentence order.The frequency of testing, which we consider to be cost effective, is prescribed within National Standards: 2005 which require that:"‘Offenders must be tested (and the results recorded) at least twice per week during the first 16 weeks of the requirement, which may be reduced to once per week thereafter if the offender manager evidences that sufficient progress has been made. Where an offender is at the lowest level of the community sentence band drug testing should be at a minimum frequency of once per week during the first 16 weeks of the requirement. In addition, where an offender is in residential rehabilitation drug testing may be at a minimum frequency of once per week for the first 16 weeks of the requirement.’"

Secondary information