Written question asked by Tam Dalyell (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 December 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 December 2000. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Monday, 18 December 2000 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the role of drug rehabilitation activity in the Armed Forces.

Answer: Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of drug rehabilitation activity in the Armed Forces. [143101] Mr. Spellar: The Armed Forces regard drug taking as a matter of the utmost seriousness. A comprehensive drugs education and awareness programme, together with a random Compulsory Drugs Testing (CDT) programme is employed to dissuade Armed Forces personnel from taking drugs. A positive CDT test result by a member of the Services will, in most cases, lead to an administrative discharge which no rehabilitation offered. Those few personnel who test positive, and are retained under exceptional circumstances, receive a formal warning and are closely monitored and subject to no-notice drug re-testing for a period of between two and five years. They also attend the routine Services' drug education and awareness programme during the monitoring period. The position for those Service personnel who are detained at the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) following a conviction for a drug related criminal offence is slightly different. MCTC employ a civilian drugs counsellor to provide confidential counselling and advice to drug offenders. This support is enhanced further by a civilian medical officer and welfare officer.

Secondary information