3rd report - Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility

Select Committee
Scottish Affairs Committee HC 630 16 September 2025
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 21 items (9 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 18 of 21 classified)
Accepted 1
Acknowledged 5
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 9
Government response
4th Special Report - Problem drug use in Scotland follow-up: Glasgow’s Safer Drug Consumption Facility: Government Response · published 20 Nov 2025
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Recommendations & Conclusions

5 results
6 Conclusion Acknowledged
The 'gold standard' Thistle facility is expensive, leaving alternative cost-effective models untested.
Conclusion
Given the severity of problem drug use in Glasgow, it is clear that decisive, radical action is needed. The Thistle is a gold standard facility and represents an intervention that is commensurate with the scale of Glasgow’s drug problem. However, … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government notes that The Thistle is subject to an independent evaluation and states they will welcome any evidence that emerges following the three-year pilot.
Scotland Office
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7 Conclusion Acknowledged
Addressing Scotland's severe drug crisis requires significant, commensurate investment due to high fatalities.
Conclusion
However, any discussion of the cost of The Thistle must be considered in the context of Scotland’s drugs crisis, with 1,172 people having died from drugs in 2023 alone. While it is right that the cost of The Thistle is … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the Committee’s concern over drug deaths in Scotland and recognizes the specific challenges of substance misuse there, committing to work closely with the Scottish Government despite differing approaches.
Scotland Office
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12 Recommendation Acknowledged
Engage key stakeholders and the local community to address concerns about The Thistle's impact.
Recommendation
It is vital that key stakeholders of The Thistle are engaged to address concerns about the impact of the facility and continue to work with the local community on how to address any concerns raised. We recognise that it may … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government notes that The Thistle is subject to an independent evaluation and states they will welcome any evidence that emerges as part of that following the three-year pilot, but does not commit to engaging stakeholders or taking specific action based on the evaluation.
Scotland Office
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18 Recommendation Acknowledged
Require UK Government to seriously consider evaluation of The Thistle and merits of SDCFs.
Recommendation
The Minister has stated that the UK Government will consider the evidence emerging from the pilot. However, it was clear from the Minister’s evidence that the Home Office will not make legislative changes, even if the evaluation finds that the … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges its commitment to an evidence-based approach to drug policy within the law, citing various existing evidence-based programs as examples.
Scotland Office
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19 Recommendation Acknowledged
Demonstrate an evidence-based approach and consider The Thistle's independent evaluation for policymaking.
Recommendation
The UK Government must demonstrate that it has an evidence-based approach to policy making and will consider the independent evaluation of The Thistle. Any intervention found to be effective at saving lives and reducing harm should not be dismissed. (Recommendation, … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges its commitment to an evidence-based approach to drug policy, citing existing programs like Individual Placement and Support, naloxone availability, and heroin-assisted treatment.
Scotland Office
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