To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of residents in young offender centres in Northern Ireland had been diagnosed with addictions in each of the last five years. (228236)

Since October 2005, on committal, young offenders are asked if they are dependent on any substance and the following table details the number of young offenders recording a dependency for each of the previous three years.

Lead responsibility for the provision of addiction services for prisoners in Northern Ireland was transferred to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on 1 October 2008. I have, therefore, copied your question and my response to Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey.