THE MINISTRY of Defence yesterday confirmed that over the past two-and-a-half years The Black Watch has discharged 10 soldiers for drugs misuse.

A national newspaper, however, reported that 22 soldiers had been thrown out of the regiment.

The newspaper quoted Clive Fairweather, former SAS commander, as saying “I suspect a great deal of drug abuse is not detected. The random monitoring should be even more rigorous than it is.”

An MoD spokesperson confirmed the figure of soldiers discharged from The Black Watch between January 2003 and July 2005 was 10.

He said the Army has a drug re-education programme, offering junior cadets who have used minor substances education about drug misuse.

“At the end of the six-week programme which gives the soldier an opportunity to talk about their drug problem, the army then decides whether the soldier may or may not return to their unit.

“The soldiers in the army who have tested positive for drug use may not have been using drugs during army time and may have done so during their leave. The figure should not reflect on the reputation of The Black Watch regiment.”