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Prisons (Drugs)
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug free units there are in England and Wales; if he will list the prisons in which they operate; and if he will make a statement. [63670]
Mr. George Howarth: As part of the implementation of its Drug Strategy, the Prison Service is planning the expansion of provision of voluntary testing units from April 1999 onwards. Included in the programme of work is a specification for voluntary testing units and an analysis of the existing provision. The information requested will be available towards the end of this financial year.
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of reported drug use there were in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales (a) in each of the last 12 months and (b) in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [63685]
Mr. George Howarth: Provisional information for 1998 showing the number of drugs offences by prisoners proved at prison adjudication are given in the table. In addition, 831 prison visitors were arrested for drug related incidents at a prison in England and Wales between January and September 1998. Figures for prison visitors arrested for drug offences for the last 5 years are shown in the table.
| Offence | Number |
|---|---|
| Refusal to provide a drug test sample | 326 |
| Falsifying a drug test sample | 35 |
| Unauthorised use of controlled drug | 11,902 |
| Possession of unauthorised drug | 2,402 |
| Sells/delivers drugs to person | 69 |
| Total | 14,734 |
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 310 |
| 1994 | 921 |
| 1995 | 1,410 |
| 1996 | 1,270 |
| 1997 | 1,130 |
| 1998 (January-September) | 831 |
17 Dec 1998 : Column: 738
Feltham Young Offenders Institution
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been transferred from Feltham Young Offenders Institution needing psychiatric help as defined under the Mental Health Act 1983 in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [63676]
- (2) what is the average length of time taken for transfers to take place from Feltham Young Offenders Institution of individuals needing psychiatric help as defined under the Mental Health Act 1983; and if he will make a statement. [63783]
Mr. George Howarth: The following transfers from Feltham Young Offenders Institution to psychiatric hospital under sections 47 and 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983 took place in each of the years in question covering the period 1 April to 31 March:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 7 |
| 1994-95 | 16 |
| 1995-96 | 36 |
| 1996-97 | 30 |
| 1997-98 | 31 |
The time taken to deal with transfers is not available in the form requested. Each case is dealt with according to the conditions of the patient and the availability of a suitable hospital bed.
Police Manpower
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in each police force on (i) the last day for which figures are available, (ii) 31 March 1998, (iii) 30 September 1997, (iv) 31 March 1997 and (v) 31 March 1992; if he will give the figures in total and per head of population; and if he will make a statement. [63672]
Mr. Boateng: The latest available information is set out in the tables. Police strength figures as at 30 September 1998 are provisional and have yet to be validated.
17 Dec 1998 : Column: 739
17 Dec 1998 : Column: 741
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