Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Prisons: Illegal Drug Use

Tuesday 11 March 2025 · 1 question

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Dr Luke Evans asked about the increase in anabolic steroid detection in Scottish prisons from less than 1% before 2021 to 10% in 2023.
  • The Lord Chancellor acknowledged the importance of the issue and Dr Evans's long record of campaigning on it.
  • The Lord Chancellor offered to arrange a meeting between Dr Evans and the Prisons Minister to discuss further research needs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Less than 1% of seized substances contained anabolic steroids before 2021, but by 2023, it was 10%, making them the third most prevalent drug class detected in Scottish prisons. This trend highlights a significant increase in steroid usage.

Question

Before 2021, less than 1% of seized substances contained anabolic steroids. In 2023, it was 10%, with anabolic steroids being the third most prevalent drug class detected in Scottish prisons. Will the Lord Chancellor meet me and Dr Jayasena and Dr Grant, who are national leads on the topic from Imperial College, to look at conducting research into the impact of steroids on offending and the prison population?

Answer from Shabana Mahmood (Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice)

I pay tribute to the hon. Member for his long record of campaigning on this particular issue. It is an important point, and I will ensure that he can meet the Prisons Minister and look at what further research might be needed in this area.

Partly answered
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