Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Illicit Substance Use in Prisons

Tuesday 3 November 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial concern about the link between drugs and violence in prisons
  • Government supports the Prisons (Substance Testing) Bill to address illicit substance use
  • NHS Reconnect service aids prisoners in continuing drug treatment post-release

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Henry Smith Con
Justice & Courts
Context

There is a concern about the use of illicit substances in prisons, which impacts safety.

Question

What steps he is taking to improve the capability of prisons to test for the use of illicit substances among prisoners. I am concerned about the link between drugs and violence and assaults in our prisons.

Answer from Lucy Frazer

My hon. Friend is right to highlight the impact of drugs in our prisons, because there is a link between drugs and violence and assaults. That is why we in Government are supporting the Prisons (Substance Testing) Bill, promoted by my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Dame Cheryl Gillan). The Bill had its Second Reading last month and will ensure that we can extend the range of substances that can be tested automatically, so that we can respond quicker to new formulations of psychoactive substances.

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Q2 Henry Smith Con
Justice & Courts NHS
Context

There is a need for support to ensure that prisoners can recover permanently from drugs misuse.

Question

I am grateful for that answer. What support can be provided for prisoners to ensure that they can recover permanently from drugs misuse?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

We are taking a number of approaches, of which I shall name just one: the rolling out of the NHS Reconnect service, which ensures that those having treatment in prisons can continue that treatment when they go into the community on release. The service includes assistance in making referrals and also provides peer mentoring services. It will ensure that, as my hon. Friend said, offenders permanently stay off drugs on their release.

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