MP calls for more drug testing of British soldiers

Published on Sunday 30 November 2008 19:58

A SCOTTISH MP yesterday called for the Army to carry out more drug tests of troops after it was reported that 610 UK soldiers – including 101 from Scottish battalions – were dismissed last year for taking drugs.

David Hamilton, the MP for Midlothian and a member of the House of Commons' defence committee, said: "To understand the problem we've got to get the facts. And that means we should be checking more.

"If you are on the front line in the services, you don't want someone behind you who has taken drugs.

"You've got to be sure that the people you're with are OK.

"It's an issue which we've got to look at and keep on top of all the time."

An army official, Colonel John Donnelly, said the "vast majority" of soldiers adhered to the Army's values and standards.

"We have a high code of values and standards that we hope every soldier aspires to. Inevitably there will be a few people that don't quite match that standard.

"We require young men to do a difficult, sometimes dirty job, and they need to be risk-takers, they need to have a sense of adventure."

He added: "We hope we can engage that constructively.

"Occasionally there are a small number who don't quite meet that challenge."