Drugs

Home Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 10 Feb 2022 Closed: 1 Feb 2024 Parliament page
The focus of the inquiry is on illegal drug use and its effects on society and the economy. The inquiry considers the UK’s legislative framework on drugs and UK drug policy. The framework refers to, for example: the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016; and, where … Read more
38 Recommendations
33 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
4 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 18 events
14 Nov
2023
Report published
31 Aug
2023
Report published
22 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
22 Feb
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
23 Nov
2022
Correspondence
2 Nov
2022
Correspondence
27 Oct
2022
Correspondence
27 Oct
2022
Correspondence
29 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
29 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
15 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
15 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
22 Feb 2023
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Angela Constance · Scottish Government Caroline Hart · Home Office Marcus Starling · Home Office Rt Hon Chris Philp MP · Home Office
29 Jun 2022
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Charlie Doyle · British Transport Police Dr Jack Spicer · University of the West of England Dr Richard Lewis · National Police Chiefs’ Council and Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police Junior Smart OBE · St Giles Trust Nicky Hill · Abianda Steve Rodhouse · National Crime Agency
15 Jun 2022
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Andy Dunbobbin · Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales David Sidwick David Thorne · South Wales Police John Campbell QPM · Thames Valley Police Serena Kennedy · Merseyside Police Zoe Metcalfe
25 May 2022
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Councillor Joanne Harding · Local Government Association Maggie Boreham · Hackney Council Professor Dame Carol Black · Combating Drugs Professor Jim McManus · Hertfordshire County Council
18 May 2022
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Dr Emily Finch · Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Dr Owen Bowden-Jones · Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Professor David Nutt · Imperial College, London Professor Jo Neill · Manchester University Professor Ornella Corazza · Hertfordshire University Professor Roger Knaggs · Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Professor Stuart Reece · University of Western Australia
27 Apr 2022
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Chloe Hartnell · Hodge Jones and Allen LLP Dr Karenza Moore · Newcastle University Dr Kojo Koram · Birkbeck College, University of London Martin Powell · Transform Drug Policy Foundation Niamh Eastwood · Release Rudi Fortson QC · 25 Bedford Row Chambers
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Drugs HC 198 31 Aug 2023 71 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
17 results
Clear
3 Conclusion Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and Regulations 2001 require reform.
We conclude the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 require reform.
Government Response
The government rejects the conclusion, stating it has no plans for fundamental reform of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 or the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, believing current legislation is appropriate and compatible with a balanced approach.
Home Office
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4 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Reform 1971 Act and 2001 Regulations, integrating public health with law enforcement.
We recommend that the UK Government reform the 1971 Act and 2001 Regulations in a way that promotes a greater role for public health in our response to drugs, whilst maintaining our law enforcement to tackling the illicit production and … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation for reform, stating it has no plans for fundamental changes to the 1971 Act or 2001 Regulations, believing existing legislation supports a balanced public health and law enforcement approach.
Home Office
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5 Conclusion Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
A wider review of Schedule 1 controlled drugs is urgently required.
We welcome the ACMD’s work reviewing the status of drugs controlled under Schedule 1 to the 2001 Regulations. However, we conclude a wider review is required.
Government Response
The government rejects the conclusion that a wider review is required, stating it has no plans for a broad review and is satisfied with the current classification of most commonly used drugs, though it has acted on nitrous oxide.
Home Office
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6 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Commission the ACMD to review drug classification and scheduling systems, with regular updates.
We recommend that the Home Office commission the ACMD to review whether the most commonly used controlled drugs in the UK are correctly classified under the 1971 Act and correctly scheduled under the 2001 Regulations based on the scientific evidence … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation for a broad, commissioned review of drug classifications and scheduling, stating it has no plans for such a review and is largely satisfied with current controls, noting the ACMD can also self-commission reviews.
Home Office
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14 Conclusion Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Home Office selectively adopts ACMD advice on drug classification changes.
The ACMD seeks to provide scientific, evidence-based recommendations to support the development of evidence-based drug policy. We note that the Home Office appears more likely to adopt advice to increase the classification of a controlled drug than it is to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the essential role of ACMD advice but asserts its prerogative to make alternative decisions, taking into account other relevant factors to protect the public, even when differing from ACMD conclusions.
Home Office
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15 Conclusion Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Home Office withholding of ACMD's 2016 report undermines transparency and established practice.
We are disappointed that the Home Office has repeatedly refused to publish the ACMD’s 2016 report, including to this Committee on a confidential basis. No other ACMD report remains unpublished and withholding this one contravenes established practice and undermines the … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly refuses to publish the 2016 ACMD paper or provide a confidential copy, explaining that the ACMD itself marked the paper as confidential and it would be inappropriate for the Home Office to publish it.
Home Office
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16 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Publish the ACMD’s 2016 report or provide a confidential copy within one month.
We, once again, request that the Home Office publish the ACMD’s 2016 report. At the very least, we request that the Home Office provide us with a confidential copy of the document within one month of receiving this report. Failing … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly rejects the request to publish the 2016 ACMD report or provide a confidential copy, explaining that the paper was marked confidential by the ACMD itself and its publication would be inappropriate.
Home Office
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41 Conclusion Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Evidence base required for safe consumption facilities across the United Kingdom.
An evidence base for a safe consumption facility in the UK is needed.
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation, stating it does not support safe consumption facilities, that there is no legal framework for them, and anyone operating one would be committing offences.
Home Office
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42 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Support piloting of safe consumption facilities in areas of demonstrated local need.
We recommend that the Government support the piloting of safe consumption facilities in areas across the UK where there is deemed to be a need by local government and stakeholders.
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to pilot safe consumption facilities, stating it does not support them and has no plans to create a legal framework due to existing offences.
Home Office
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43 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Support Glasgow safe consumption facility pilot, creating legislative pathway and ensuring joint funding.
In particular, we recommend the Government support a pilot in Glasgow by creating a legislative pathway under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 that enables such a facility to operate legally. The pilot in Glasgow must be jointly funded by … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to support and fund a pilot safe consumption facility in Glasgow and create a legislative pathway, citing its lack of support for such facilities and the absence of a legal framework.
Home Office
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44 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Establish a national drug checking service in England for anonymous postal sample submission.
We recommend that the Home Office and Department of Health and Social Care jointly establish a national drug checking service in England to enable people to submit drug samples by post anonymously. We recommend the Home Office consult stakeholders on … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to establish a national drug checking service, stating it implies approval of illicit drug use and is contrary to their zero-tolerance strategy, though it highlighted existing systems for detecting new psychoactive substances.
Home Office
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45 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Expand on-site drug checking services and establish a dedicated licensing scheme for temporary events.
We recommend the expansion of on-site drug checking services at temporary events such as music festivals and within the night-time economy. We recommend that the Home Office establish a dedicated licensing scheme for drug checking at such events before the … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to expand on-site drug checking services and establish a licensing scheme, arguing such services imply approval of illicit drug use and conflict with their zero-tolerance strategy.
Home Office
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50 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Ensure sustainable supply of prescribed diamorphine for patients facing shortages.
We are concerned by reported shortages of prescribed diamorphine, particularly because of the serious impact they may have on the health and lives of patients. As prescribed diamorphine is a viable form of treatment in England, the Government must work … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation to ensure a sustainable supply of prescribed diamorphine, stating ongoing manufacturing issues, clinical advice to use morphine as a first-line alternative due to no clinical advantages of diamorphine, and reduced NHS usage.
Home Office
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51 Conclusion Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Middlesbrough DAT programme impressive but lacked crucial joint local funding.
We support the use of DAT supported by wrap-around psychosocial support. The impressive Middlesbrough DAT programme that we witnessed held benefits for both the public health and criminal justice sectors. We are most disappointed that joint local funding from both … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation, stating that local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug treatment interventions and deciding on funding based on local need and priorities.
Home Office
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52 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Provide centralised funding to support Diamorphine Assisted Treatment, urgently re-establishing Middlesbrough's programme.
We repeat the ACMD’s 2016 recommendation that the Government provide centralised funding to support the provision of DAT for people with a chronic heroin dependency for whom other forms of OST have not been successful. The centralised funding should first … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation for centralised funding for DAT, reiterating that local authorities are responsible for commissioning and funding these interventions based on local needs.
Home Office
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65 Conclusion Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Lack of NHS access to cannabis-based medicinal products for patients.
We support cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) where there is an evidence base that it can be an effective form of treatment for managing conditions or symptoms. We welcome the ACMD conducting a further assessment of CBPMs following on … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly rejects the committee's underlying sentiment for greater access to unlicensed CBPMs, stating that prescribing medicinal cannabis is a clinical decision, not a matter for government policy. It maintains commitment to an evidence-based approach, encouraging research and establishing clinical trials to build the necessary evidence.
Home Office
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66 Recommendation Rejected
Third Report - Drugs
Widen NHS accessibility of unlicensed cannabis-based medicinal products before Parliament ends.
Pending the outcome of the ACMD’s review, we recommend that the Government widens the accessibility of unlicensed CBPMs on the NHS before the end of this Parliament.
Government Response
The government explicitly rejects the recommendation to widen accessibility of unlicensed CBPMs, stating it is a clinical decision and that more evidence is needed to support routine prescribing. They encourage manufacturers to conduct research and are working to establish clinical trials.
Home Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 71 of 38 classified
Accepted 22
Accepted in Part 14
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 7
Not Addressed 3
Rejected 17
Total 38 recs + 33 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
23 Nov 2022 To committee Letter from Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire on the Middlesbrough DAT programme, dated 11 November 2022
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2 Nov 2022 To committee Letter from Public Health, Middlesbrough Council on closure of the Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment programme, dated 31 October 2022
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27 Oct 2022 From committee Letter to the Minister for Policing and Crime on closure of Middlesbrough Diamorphine-Assisted Treatment programme, dated 27 October 2022
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27 Oct 2022 From committee Letter to Project ADDER on closure of Middlesbrough diamorphine assisted treatment programme, dated 27 October 2022
Parliament page