Armed Forces: Drugs

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife of 22 February 2010, Official Report, columns 7-8W, on armed forces: discharges, how many compulsory drug tests the Army has carried out in each quarter since January 2008; and how many positive tests for (a) cocaine, (b) ecstasy and (c) cannabis there were in each such quarter. (322535)

The number of compulsory drug tests undertaken by the Army in each quarter since January 2008 and the positive results for cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis are shown in the following table:

Period	Number of tests	Cocaine	Ecstasy	Cannabis
2008
1 January-31 March	19,885	92	10	47
1 April-30 June	24,787	152	10	49
1 July-30 September	19,978	95	10	31
1 October-31 December	25,189	88	2	44

2009
1 January-31 March	25,045	65	3	43
1 April-30 June	26,932	70	3	65
1 July-30 September	26,210	55	0	58
1 October-31 December	24,762	47	0	37

Volume 508: debated on Monday 22 March 2010