Written question asked by George Howarth (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 March 1997. It was answered by Ann Widdecombe (Conservative) on Tuesday, 11 March 1997 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office;Prison Service

Question: What plans he has to incorporate random drug testing in the Prison Service Key Performance Indicator for Mandatory Drug Testing. - Including text of letter from Hugh Taylor of the Prison Service Agency.

Answer: Mr. Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to incorporate random drug testing in the Prison Service key performance indicator for mandatory drug testing. [18746] Miss Widdecombe: 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 Hugh Taylor to Mr. George Howarth, dated 11 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 incorporation of random drug testing in the Prison Service's mandatory drug testing key performance indicator. Random drug testing already forms the basis of the Service's key performance indicator in respect of mandatory drug testing. In 1996-97 the target is for the percentage of random drug tests in which the result is positive to be lower in the fourth quarter than in the first.

Secondary information