Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility

Scottish Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 13 Jan 2025 Closed: 1 Dec 2025 Parliament page
This inquiry is examining the legal and policy challenges faced in setting up and running the pilot Safer Drugs Consumption Facility (SDCF) which opened in Glasgow in January 2025. This inquiry will examine the case for the facility, as well as its medical effectiveness in reducing drug-related harm in Scotland. … Read more
8 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
3 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 14 events
20 Nov
2025
Report published
16 Sep
2025
Report published
3 Sep
2025
Correspondence
3 Sep
2025
Formal meeting (private meeting) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
4 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
4 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
7 May
2025
Oral evidence
7 May
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
19 Mar
2025
Correspondence
5 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
5 Mar
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
12 Feb
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
4 Jun 2025
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Glasgow’s SDCF – Session 4
Laura Zeballos · Scottish Government Marcus Starling · Home Office Neil Gray MSP · Scottish Government Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP · Home Office
7 May 2025
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Glasgow’s SDCF – Session 3
Dorothy Bain KC, The Lord Advocate Jenny Hamilton · Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Superintendent Joanne McEwan, Police Scotland
5 Mar 2025
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Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility
Councillor Allan Casey · Glasgow City Council Dr Saket Priyadarshi · NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Kelda Gaffney · Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership Lynn MacDonald · NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
12 Feb 2025
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Glasgow’s SDCF – Session 1
Andrew McAuley · Glasgow Caledonian University Catriona Matheson · The University of Stirling Gillian Shorter · Queen’s University Belfast Vittal Katikireddi · The University of Glasgow
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd report - Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s S… HC 630 16 Sep 2025 21 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
2 Conclusion Deferred
3rd report - Problem drug use in S…
Mandate independent evaluation findings determine future of The Thistle safe drug consumption facility.
We recognise that the opening of The Thistle on a pilot-basis presents an opportunity to test the effectiveness of SDCFs in Glasgow’s unique context. We believe the evidence provided by the independent evaluation panel should be determinative in discussions about … Read more
Government Response
The government deflected by discussing a Home Office licence issued for drug checking services at 55 Hunter Street, Glasgow, while clarifying that this licence does not cover The Thistle's safer drug consumption service.
Scotland Office
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3 Conclusion Deferred
3rd report - Problem drug use in S…
Articulate The Thistle's rationale and objectives clearly and consistently to improve public understanding.
A range of rationales have been given for why there is a need for The Thistle and what effect it is intended to have. This has been unhelpful to public understanding of the facility and may result in unrealistic expectations … Read more
Government Response
The government deflected by reiterating its commitment to an evidence-based drug policy and highlighting existing successful programs, rather than addressing the clarity of The Thistle facility's rationale and objectives as recommended.
Scotland Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 14 of 8 classified
Acknowledged 2
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 9
Total 8 recs + 13 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
3 Sep 2025 To committee Letter from Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention regarding Thistle License, dated 21 July 2025
Parliament page
19 Mar 2025 To committee Letter from Annemarie Ward, CEO of Faces & Voices of Recovery UK, regarding oral evidence presented to the Committee as part of its inquiry into Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility, dated 6 March 2025
Parliament page
12 Feb 2025 Correspondence to the Chair from Fiona McIntyre, Royal Pharmaceutical Society Scotland, regarding Problem Drug Use in Scotland Follow-up: Glasgow's Safer Drug Consumption Facility, dated 30 January 202
Parliament page