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What rights prisoners detained in England and Wales have to secure a second medical opinion and appropriate treatment, with particular reference to drug dependent prisoners. - Text of letter from Richard Tilt of the Prison Service. (Holding answer 16 December 1996).
What rights prisoners detained in England and Wales have to secure a second medical opinion and appropriate treatment, with particular reference to drug dependent prisoners. - Text of letter from Richard Tilt of the Prison Service. (Holding answer 16 December 1996).
Asked by
Max Madden
(Labour)
Answered by
Ann Widdecombe
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
18 December 1996
Answered on
18 December 1996
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rights prisoners detained in England and Wales have to secure
a second medical opinion and appropriate treatment, with particular reference to drug dependent prisoners. [9164]
Miss Ann Widdecombe: [holding answer 16 December 1996]: 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 18 December 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to respond to your recent Question about the rights of prisoners, detained in England and Wales
prisons, to secure a second medical opinion and appropriate treatment, with particular reference to drug dependant prisoners.
Neither unconvicted or convicted prisoners have an automatic right to seek a second medical opinion from NHS or private health care
services. Where however, a second opinion is thought necessary by the prison medical officer, arrangements are made for the prisoner
to be examined by a visiting NHS clinician, or transferred to a NHS hospital for examination or treatment.
Notwithstanding the above, if an unconvicted prisoner wishes to secure a second medical opinion, he or she may be visited and
treated in prison by a nominated doctor if the following conditions are met:
The inmate is able and willing to pay the expenses incurred.
The Governor is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for such a request.
A convicted prisoner does not have this automatic right.
In exceptional circumstances a prisoner, whether convicted or unconvicted, may receive in-patient treatment in a private hospital or
clinic, or a private room in a National Health Service Hospital. For this to occur the medical officer must be satisfied that the
following conditions are met:
Hospital inpatient treatment is necessary.
It is clinically advisable that the treatment is carried out during the period that the prisoner is in custody.
The treatment cannot be carried out in a prison service health care centre and
that the prisoner could be treated significantly earlier, privately in a hospital within reasonable distance of the prison than
under NHS arrangements or
They had an appointment for private in-patient treatment before they came into prison.
The governor must also satisfy himself that:
The inmate has sufficient funds or adequate private insurance to meet all costs, including the bedwatch.
These conditions apply to all medical and dental conditions, including the treatment of drug dependency.
Subjects
Health services; Drugs; Prisoners; Prisons; Misuse; Prisoners' rights
Date
18 December 1996
Reference
9164; 287 c726-7W;287 c727-8W
House
House of Commons
What action he is taking to protect young people from drugs when attending clubs and raves in Scotland.
What action he is taking to protect young people from drugs when attending clubs and raves in Scotland.
Asked by
Tim Rathbone
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Selkirk of Douglas
(Conservative)
Answering body
Scottish Office
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
18 December 1996
Answered on
18 December 1996
Subjects
Drugs; Entertainments; Misuse; Scotland; Young people
Date
18 December 1996
Reference
287 c929; 8131
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
1st supplementary on same.
1st supplementary on same.
Asked by
Tim Rathbone
(Conservative)
Answering body
Scottish Office
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 December 1996
Subjects
Drugs; Entertainments; Misuse; Scotland; Young people
Date
18 December 1996
Reference
287 c929
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Answered by
Lord Selkirk of Douglas
(Conservative)
Asked by
Tim Rathbone
(Conservative)
Answering body
Scottish Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
What action he is taking to protect young people from drugs when attending clubs and raves in Scotland.
Subjects
Drugs; Entertainments; Misuse; Scotland; Young people
Date
18 December 1996
Reference
287 c929
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Answered by
Lord Selkirk of Douglas
(Conservative)
Answering body
Scottish Office
Type
Oral answers to questions
Subjects
Drugs; Entertainments; Misuse; Scotland; Young people
Date
18 December 1996
Reference
287 c929
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Guidelines for the treatment of drug dependent prisoners in prison: Clinical services for substance misusers (health care standard, 8); Health care standards for prisons in England and Wales. HO. 1996.
Guidelines for the treatment of drug dependent prisoners in prison: Clinical services for substance misusers (health care standard, 8); Health care standards for prisons in England and Wales. HO. 1996.
Deposited by
Home Office
Type
Deposited papers
Author
Home Office
Committed on
17 December 1996
Originated on
16 December 1996
Received on
17 December 1996
Subjects
Drugs; Medical treatments; Prisoners; Prisons; Misuse
Commons Library location
DEP/3 4335
Lords Library location
HINF 96/1550
Date
17 December 1996
Reference
DEP/3 4335
House
House of Commons
Statement on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 28th and 29th November.
Statement on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 28th and 29th November.
Asked by
Ivan Lawrence
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Howard of Lympne
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
17 December 1996
Answered on
17 December 1996
Sir Ivan Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Justice
and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 28 and 29 November. [9859]
Mr. Howard: I represented the United Kingdom at the Council. The main matters dealt with were as follows:
The Council agreed as "A" points, among other things, a joint action creating a directory of competences in the fight against
organised crime, and a joint action establishing a European Community funded incentive and exchange programme to combat trafficking
in human beings and child sex abuse.
The Presidency reported progress in negotiations on the draft external frontiers convention, and on the Europol draft regulations.
The United Kingdom hopes to ratify the Europol convention before the end of the year.
Meetings were held with Ministers of associated central and eastern European countries and, separately, with Cyprus. These
concentrated on the fight against drugs and the need to co-operate against trafficking in human beings and paedophile rings.
Two reports were considered on the fight against organised crime, one dealing with the situation in 1995, the other looking forward
to future possibilities for closer co-operation and assistance. The first report will be presented to the European Parliament in due
course.
A joint action was agreed concerning action to combat trafficking in human beings and sexual abuse of children.
A draft report to the European Council on drugs in the European Union was discussed. Some amendments were agreed and the report will
now be forwarded, via the General Affairs Council, to the European Council.
There was extensive discussion of a draft joint action, proposed by France, on approximation of laws and practices to combat drug
consumption and drug trafficking. While a strong will was shown on all sides to combat drug trafficking, final agreement of the text
of the action was deferred pending further consultations by several countries.
Agreement was reached on a draft resolution on sentencing for serious illicit drug trafficking. The text will now be submitted to
the European Council.
The Presidency outlined proposals for settling the outstanding issue of European Court of Justice jurisdiction in the draft
convention on corruption. More work was commissioned on these proposals.
A report to the European Council on achievements in the field of justice and home affairs was briefly discussed. The text will now
be finalised and forwarded to the European Council.
A brief summary was given of activities in the field of crime prevention, including the outcome of recent seminars and proposals for
a follow-up seminar next year.
Priorities were outlined by the Netherlands for its Presidency in the first half of 1997. These included implementation of the
Europol convention, further work on action to combat drugs and organised crime, trafficking in human beings and abuse of the
Internet, and development of the structured dialogue with the countries which are candidates for accession.
Discussions took place on aspects of the draft convention on the service of documents in civil and judicial matters. In the absence
of agreement, further work was commissioned.
Conventions were signed allowing Sweden, Austria and Finland to accede to two conventions on jurisdiction and enforcement of
judgments in civil and commercial matters and on the law applicable to contractual obligations. Protocols were signed providing on
an optional basis for European Court of Justice jurisdiction in the European Union conventions on the protection of the European
Communities financial interests and on the use of information technology for customs purposes.
Subjects
Children; Crime; Drugs; EU action; Organised crime; Misuse; Sentencing; Sexual offences; EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (1993-2000)
Date
17 December 1996
Reference
9859; 287 c581-2W;287 c581-3W
House
House of Commons
Statement on outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 28-29 November.
Statement on outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 28-29 November.
Asked by
Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Blatch
(Conservative)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
17 December 1996
Answered on
17 December 1996
Subjects
Children; Crime; Drugs; EU action; Organised crime; Misuse; Sentencing; Sexual offences; EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (1993-2000)
Date
17 December 1996
Reference
576 c113-4WA
House
House of Lords
What estimate he has made of the number of drug dependent prisoners currently detained in prisons in Northern Ireland; and for what reasons women convicted of terrorist offences are routinely strip-searched when leaving or returning to prison from periods of parole; how many women prisoners were strip-searched in each of...
What estimate he has made of the number of drug dependent prisoners currently detained in prisons in Northern Ireland; and for what reasons women convicted of terrorist offences are routinely strip-searched when leaving or returning to prison from periods of parole; how many women prisoners were strip-searched in each of...
Asked by
Max Madden
(Labour)
Answered by
John Wheeler
(Conservative)
Answering body
Northern Ireland Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
17 December 1996
Answered on
17 December 1996
Subjects
Body searches; Women; Drugs; Northern Ireland; Prisoners; Misuse; Terrorism
Date
17 December 1996
Reference
287 c555-6W;287 c556-7W; 9201;9171;9280
House
House of Commons
What reports he has received, in each of the last three years, and the current year to date, about the extent of needle sharing between HIV positive and other prisoners in prisons in England and Wales. - Text of letter from Richard Tilt, Director General of the Prison Service.
What reports he has received, in each of the last three years, and the current year to date, about the extent of needle sharing between HIV positive and other prisoners in prisons in England and Wales. - Text of letter from Richard Tilt, Director General of the Prison Service.
Asked by
Max Madden
(Labour)
Answered by
Ann Widdecombe
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
16 December 1996
Answered on
16 December 1996
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received, in each of the last three years, and
the current year to date, about the extent of needle sharing between HIV positive and other prisoners in prisons in England and
Wales. [9167]
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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about reports received in each of the last three years and the
current year to date, about the extent of needle sharing between HIV positive and other prisoners in prisons in England and Wales.
There have been no reports of incidents of needle sharing between HIV prisoners and other prisoners in prisons in England and Wales
during the current year or the previous three years.
Subjects
Drugs; HIV/AIDS; Prisoners; Misuse
Date
16 December 1996
Reference
9167; 287 c453W
House
House of Commons
What estimate he has made of the number of drug dependent prisoners currently detained in prisons in Scotland. - Text of letter from E W Frizzell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service. Inc figs.
What estimate he has made of the number of drug dependent prisoners currently detained in prisons in Scotland. - Text of letter from E W Frizzell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service. Inc figs.
Asked by
Max Madden
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Selkirk of Douglas
(Conservative)
Answering body
Scottish Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
16 December 1996
Answered on
16 December 1996
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of drug dependent prisoners currently
detained in prisons in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [9202]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked
its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of drug dependent prisoners currently detained
in prisons in Scotland.
Drug misuse is an illegal activity which makes it difficult to obtain data on the number of prisoners dependent on drugs.
Information is not collected centrally on the number of prisoners being treated by prison medical officers for drug dependence. A
number of studies have produced data on the proportion of prisoners who misuse drugs, based on information provided anonymously by
prisoners. In the 1994 Prison Survey 45% of prisoners claimed to have used drugs at least once in the previous six months in prison
(cannabis 40%, temgesic 22%, heroin 9%, other drugs 15%--some had used more than one drug). The injecting of drugs, however, might
be a more useful measure of drug dependence. In the 1994 Prison Survey, 5% (191) of prisoners who responded said they had injected
drugs during the previous six months in prison (heroin 4%, temgesic 3%, other drugs 2%--some had used more than one drug). In 2
studies this year, prisoners were asked if they had injected drugs at some time prior to imprisonment. In HMP Low Moss 113 out of
293 prisoners who responded had done so, while in HMP Aberdeen 53 out of 157 prisoners who responded had done so.
Mandatory drug testing, which is being phased in across the Scottish Prison Service, will eventually provide accurate and objective
information on the scale and trends of drug misuse. It complements the measures already in the SPS drugs strategy. That includes
searching and surveillance to minimise the amount of drugs getting into prisons, closed circuit TV at visits, the use of sniffer
dogs and a range of other measures. It also complements the constructive work that is being done in the context of reduction and
detoxification. There are drug treatment programmes in 7 prisons, with more planned, and a new abstinence unit was opened at Low
Moss prison earlier this year. Prisoners receive a comprehensive information and training programme on HIV, AIDS and drugs within 2
week of admission to prison. All prisons provide education and counselling. Extensive links have been established with
community-based drug agencies to provide throughcare and continuing support for prisoners on release. Taken together all these
measures represent a major commitment to reduce the drugs problem.
Subjects
Drugs; Prisoners; Misuse; Scotland
Date
16 December 1996
Reference
9202; 287 c462-3W
House
House of Commons
What estimate he has made of the total number of drug dependent prisoners currently detained in prisons in England and Wales. - Text of letter from Richard Tilt, Director General of the Prison Service.
What estimate he has made of the total number of drug dependent prisoners currently detained in prisons in England and Wales. - Text of letter from Richard Tilt, Director General of the Prison Service.
Asked by
Max Madden
(Labour)
Answered by
Ann Widdecombe
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
16 December 1996
Answered on
16 December 1996
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total number of drug dependent
prisoners currently detained in prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [9200]
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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about estimates of the number of drug dependent prisoners.
Drug misuse is a covert activity which makes data on prevalence difficult to obtain and interpret. We do not have definitive
information about the scale of drug misuse in prisons; but it is a significant problem. The matter has been the subject of some
independent research. For example, a recent study (Maden et al 1995) of 995 males, male youths and females remanded in custody in
England and Wales showed that upon psychiatric examination 26% had a harmful or dependant misuse of substances (adult males 23 %,
male youths 23% and women 33%). These figures do not include alcohol or cannabis.
When these subjects were questioned about their drug use prior to entering prison 32% had used cannabis, 14% had used opiates, 9%
had used prescribed benzodiaezepines, 7% had used illicit benzodiazepines, 8% had used crack cocaine, 6% had used amphetamines and
2% had used cocaine.
A previous study by the same researchers of 1751 sentenced male prisoners in England and Wales (1991) showed that before entering
prison 43% had used cannabis, 9% had used opiates, 9% had used amphetamines and 5% had used cocaine.
A major new source of information has also recently become available. Since April 1996 all English and Welsh prisons have introduced
mandatory random drug testing. One important result from this development is that for the first time we are routinely assembling a
database of the level and nature of drug use in our prisons. Eventually this will allow us to understand more, to follow trends, to
manage and target our resources more effectively for tackling drug problems--and in time to be able to measure the impact of our
policies.
Subjects
Drugs; Prisoners; Misuse
Date
16 December 1996
Reference
9200; 287 c452W
House
House of Commons
How many deaths that involved (a) ecstasy as the sole drug concerned and (b) alcohol poisoning, occurred after the victims consumed the substances (i) in clubs, (ii) in public houses, (iii) at raves and (iv) elsewhere, in each of the last five years. - Text of letter from Time Holt...
How many deaths that involved (a) ecstasy as the sole drug concerned and (b) alcohol poisoning, occurred after the victims consumed the substances (i) in clubs, (ii) in public houses, (iii) at raves and (iv) elsewhere, in each of the last five years. - Text of letter from Time Holt...
Asked by
Paul Flynn
(Labour)
Answered by
Angela Knight
(Conservative)
Answering body
Treasury
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
16 December 1996
Answered on
16 December 1996
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths that involved (a) ecstasy as the sole drug concerned and (b)
alcohol poisoning, occurred after the victims consumed the substances (i) in clubs, (ii) in public houses, (iii) at raves and (iv)
elsewhere, in each of the last five years. [6627]
Mrs. Angela Knight: [holding answer 2 December 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief
executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 16 December 1996:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question
on how many deaths resulted from ecstasy, or poisoning from alcohol after the victims consumed the substances in (i) clubs (ii)
public houses (iii) raves and (iv) elsewhere, in each of the last five years.
ONS do not hold this level of detail as to where the substance which caused the death was consumed. The information is not recorded
on the death certificate nor by the coroner, and would be very difficult to record with any degree of accuracy. Alcohol, for
example, may have been consumed in a number of different places.
The following table shows, (a) the numbers of deaths where Ecstasy was the sole drug mentioned and (b) the numbers of deaths from
alcohol poisoning, in England and Wales in the last five years.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Year Deaths from ecstasy{1} Deaths from alcohol poisoning{2}
1991 6 152
1992 5 126
1993 12 138
1994 10 123
1995 15 130
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
{1} Deaths in which Ecstasy was the only drug mentioned on the death certificate. None of these deaths included mention of alcohol.
{2} International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, code 980.
Subjects
Death; Alcoholism; Drugs; Misuse; Raves; Ecstasy
Date
16 December 1996
Reference
6627; 287 c434-6W
House
House of Commons
If he will place in the Library copies of the most recent guidelines issued by him concerning the treatment of drug dependent prisoners in prison; and how many guidelines, or amendments to guidelines, have been issued since 1990. - Text of letter from Richard Tilt, Director General of the Prison...
If he will place in the Library copies of the most recent guidelines issued by him concerning the treatment of drug dependent prisoners in prison; and how many guidelines, or amendments to guidelines, have been issued since 1990. - Text of letter from Richard Tilt, Director General of the Prison...
Asked by
Max Madden
(Labour)
Answered by
Ann Widdecombe
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
16 December 1996
Answered on
16 December 1996
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the most recent
guidelines issued by him concerning the treatment of drug dependent prisoners in prison; and how many guidelines, or amendments to
guidelines, have been issued since 1990. [9163]
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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 16 December 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about guidelines concerning the treatment of drug dependent
prisoners.
There are three documents two of which are already in the Library: "Caring for drug users", issued in April 1991 and the current
Prison Service Drugs Strategy, "Drug misuse in prison", issued in April last year. In the same month we also published Health Care
Standard 8, "Clinical Services for Substance Misusers." I enclose a copy for your information, and I am arranging for a complete set
of Health Care Standards to be placed in the Library.
Subjects
Codes of practice; Drugs; Prisoners; Misuse
Date
16 December 1996
Reference
9163; 287 c451-2W
House
House of Commons
Type
Select Committee reports; House of Commons papers;
Parliamentary committees
Committee
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Notes
Received 23.01.97
Subjects
Crime; Drugs; Entertainments; Northern Ireland; Misuse; Raves; Young people; Royal Ulster Constabulary; Ecstasy; Northern Ireland Prison Service; Northern Ireland Office; Presbyterian Church in Ireland; Contact Youth; Dunlewey Substance Advice Centre; Northlands; Peoples Alternative to Narcotics and Alcohol
Commons Library location
CS 860;Stats 410.72;Research Sc 362.293(416),P
Date
11 December 1996
Reference
HC 52 1996/97
House
House of Commons
How many prosecutions have been brought in each of the last five years for sales of butane gas to minors; and if he will provide a regional breakdown where available. - Information collected centrally under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 does not identify the substance involved. (Holding answer 6...
How many prosecutions have been brought in each of the last five years for sales of butane gas to minors; and if he will provide a regional breakdown where available. - Information collected centrally under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 does not identify the substance involved. (Holding answer 6...
Asked by
Alan Milburn
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Blencathra
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
10 December 1996
Answered on
10 December 1996
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought in each of the last five
years for sales of butane gas to minors; and if he will provide a regional breakdown where available. [7751]
Mr. Maclean: [holding answer 6 December 1996]:
Information collected centrally under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 does not identify the substance involved.
Subjects
Aerosols; Prosecutions; Misuse; Liquefied petroleum gas; Young people; Retail trade; Solvents
Date
10 December 1996
Reference
7751; 287 c148W
House
House of Commons
Crime (Sentences) Bill. Committee stage eleventh sitting (afternoon). New clauses considered. Bill as amended to be reported (Bill 51 1996/97).
Crime (Sentences) Bill. Committee stage eleventh sitting (afternoon). New clauses considered. Bill as amended to be reported (Bill 51 1996/97).
Type
Debates on bills; Public Bill Committee proceedings
Legislative stage
Committee stage
Procedure
New clauses
Legislation
Crime (Sentences) Bill 1996/97
Subjects
Crime; Crimes of violence; Alternatives to prison; Damage; Community service orders; Drugs; Misuse; Sentencing; Screening; Victims; Time limits; Pre-sentence reports
Date
10 December 1996
Reference
SCA
Chamber / Committee
Standing committees
House
House of Commons
What representations he has received concerning the accuracy of drug tests being carried out in the Prison Service. - Text of letter from R Tilt of Prison Service Agency.
What representations he has received concerning the accuracy of drug tests being carried out in the Prison Service. - Text of letter from R Tilt of Prison Service Agency.
Asked by
George Howarth
(Labour)
Answered by
Ann Widdecombe
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
10 December 1996
Answered on
10 December 1996
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the
accuracy of drug tests being carried out in the Prison Service. [6250]
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 Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 10 December 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about representations received concerning the accuracy of drug
tests carried out by the Prison Service.
Mandatory drug testing is a new procedure, and as such has been subject to several representations, including some about the
accuracy of the drug tests carried out. Individual prisoners may also have raised concerns through the requests/complaints
procedure, but these are not recorded centrally.
Prisoners have a right to challenge the results of a test specifically by requesting an independent analysis of a portion of the
sample they provided which is retained for this purpose. Release of this sample is authorised at Prison Service Headquarters. To
date 15 requests have been received from solicitors acting on behalf of prisoners in challenging the result of a particular test.
These requests include supply of the sample itself, for the purposes of independent analysis, or for the documentation which
supports the initial test result.
In addition, on 7 May the Head of Healthcare at HMP Wealstun noted that there were conflicting results on the same inmate on
occasions when he had done a voluntary drug test, analysed at Harrogate District Hospital within a day or so of the Mandatory Drug
Test. He was asked to furnish the data which led to his concerns so that investigation could take place and remedial action taken as
necessary. These details have not been furnished and so the specific cases have not been followed up.
There always will be differences in the results of tests used by medical officers for therapeutic purposes and those produced
through the Mandatory Drug Testing programme since the purposes are different. The latter operates to agreed threshold levels, and
prisoners are only found to have tested positive once this threshold is exceeded. This is to ensure that when a charge is laid on
the basis of a positive confirmation test result it is beyond reasonable doubt that the prisoner took the drug in question. Some
changes have been made to the method of testing for opiates since July which now ensure that opiate use is more likely to be picked
up from a Mandatory Drug Test.
On 15 July the Chairman of the Board of Visitors at Downview prison raised concerns about three prisoners who had screened positive
for opiates and three who had screened positive for benzodiazepines in early June. All had been found negative through confirmation
testing. The opiate results were attributed to the absence of an hydrolysis process from confirmation testing, which resulted in a
number of samples that correctly screened positive for opiates confirmation testing negative. Hydrolysis was introduced on 2 July.
In two of the cases involving benzodiazepines, the prisoners had been prescribed a combination of medications which cross-reacted
with the reagent used in the screening test. Confirmation testing uses a different technology which avoids such cross-reactions. In
the third case it is thought that the sample may have been positive for an uncommon type of benzodiazepine which is not recognised
in confirmation testing. The Prison Service, in conjunction with the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, is considering ways of
extending the range of drugs detected by confirmation testing.
On 5 August the Kent Area Manager raised concerns about six samples from Blantyre House prison which had screened positive for
cannabis, but were all found to be negative on confirmation. It was discovered that for a period of 1 1/2 hours on 5 July the screen
testing machine had been mis-calibrated, producing 84 false positive results. all prisons affected were notified. The Laboratory of
the Government Chemist has since introduced more rigorous quality control procedures, ensuring that results do not leave the
laboratory until all checks have been made.
Subjects
Complaints; Appeals; Administration; Drugs; Prisoners; Prisons; Misuse; Quality control; Testing
Date
10 December 1996
Reference
6250; 287 c146-7W
House
House of Commons
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of anti-drugs policies in reducing the consumption of (a) alcohol, (b) tobacco, (c) medicinal drugs, (d) ecstasy, (e) kelamine, (f) heroin and (g) cannabis. - Inc ref to 277 c341-2W and to British National Formulary (in Lib).
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of anti-drugs policies in reducing the consumption of (a) alcohol, (b) tobacco, (c) medicinal drugs, (d) ecstasy, (e) kelamine, (f) heroin and (g) cannabis. - Inc ref to 277 c341-2W and to British National Formulary (in Lib).
Asked by
Paul Flynn
(Labour)
Answered by
Gerald Malone
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
9 December 1996
Answered on
9 December 1996
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of anti-drugs policies in
reducing the consumption of (a) alcohol, (b) tobacco, (c) medicinal drugs, (d) ecstasy, (e) ketamine, (f) heroin and (g) cannabis.
[7502]
Mr. Malone: Concerning illegal drug misuse, I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the
Council gave my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) on 13 May, Official Report, columns 341-42.
The Government's policies to prevent the misuse of alcohol and reduce the consumption of tobacco are subject to continuing
evaluation.
The misuse of ketamine, which is not currently a controlled drug, is kept under review.
Matters relating to the prescription of medicinal drugs are for clinicians, who are expected to follow the general guidance which is
available, especially that in the British National Formulary, copies of which are available in the Library.
Subjects
Drugs; Prescription drugs; Misuse
Date
9 December 1996
Reference
7502; 287 c76W
House
House of Commons
What is the total estimated street value of the drugs seized in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. - Inc fig. (Failed OPQ)
What is the total estimated street value of the drugs seized in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. - Inc fig. (Failed OPQ)
Asked by
Simon Coombs
(Conservative)
Answered by
Lord Blencathra
(Conservative)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
For answer on
5 December 1996
Answered on
5 December 1996
Mr. Simon Coombs: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total estimated street value of the drugs seized
in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [6168]
Mr. Maclean: The total estimated street value of drugs seized by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise was £475 million in 1993 £551
million in 1994 and £458 million in 1995.
Estimates of the street value of police seizures of illegal drugs are not collected centrally.
Subjects
Drugs; Misuse; Drug seizures
Date
5 December 1996
Reference
6168; 286 c749W;286 c747W
House
House of Commons