Written question asked by Ivan Lawrence (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 March 1997. It was answered by Ann Widdecombe (Conservative) on Wednesday, 12 March 1997 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office;Prison Service

Question: What proportion of the random drug tests carried out in prisons in England and Wales were positive in (a) April to June 1996, (b) July to September 1996 and (c) October to December 1996. - Includes text of letter from AJ Pearson of Prison Service Agency and no figures given. (Holding answer 11 March 1997).

Answer: Sir Ivan Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the random drug tests carried out in prisons in England and Wales were positive in (a) April to June 1996, (b) July to September 1996 and (c) October to December 1996. [19037] Miss Widdecombe: [holding answer 11 March 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from A. J. Pearson to Sir Ivan Lawrence, dated 12 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the proportion of random drug tests which have been positive. There are some doubts and questions about the integrity of some Mandatory Drugs Testing data, largely relating to the second confirmation test, which is undertaken when the results of the initial, screening test are challenged by prisoners. We do not anticipate that the impact of any inaccuracies on the overall figures to be particularly large or have a vast effect. However, the matter is being examined urgently, both by Prison Service staff and by independent researchers. Once the review work is completed we will provide the requested figures which I expect we shall be able to do in the course of April 1997.

Secondary information