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Drugs

Status: Closed Opened: 10 Feb 2022 Closed: 1 Feb 2024 38 recommendations 33 conclusions 1 report

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 relevant, any subordinate legislation made … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Drugs HC 198 31 Aug 2023 71 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
19 Recommendation Third Report - Drugs Not Addressed

Ensure long-term funding for drug treatment services with three-year cycles and ringfenced grants.

We are concerned about the long-term sustainability and security of funding for the drug treatment and recovery sector. (Paragraph 74) a) We welcome the Government’s latest funding announcement, which provides funding in England over a two year period. However, we question whether this is a sufficient length of time for … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government response only included the text of the recommendation, with no actual response.
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Home Office
26 Conclusion Third Report - Drugs Not Addressed

Inclusion of lived experience in national drug strategy implementation questioned.

We welcome the strategy’s recommendation that the membership of local Combating Drugs Partnerships should include people affected by drug-related harm because it gives people with lived experience a platform to help reduce barriers to treatment and recovery at a local level. However, we question whether this is reflected at a … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged the value of including people with lived experience in local Combating Drugs Partnerships. However, the response did not address the committee's specific question regarding how this lived experience is reflected or included at a national level in implementing the strategy.
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Home Office
27 Recommendation Third Report - Drugs Not Addressed

Explain recognition and inclusion of lived experience voices in national drug strategy implementation.

We recommend that the Government explain how the voices of people with experience of drug-related harms are being recognised and included in national efforts to implement the strategy.

Government response AI summary
The government stated it accepted the recommendation but did not explain how the voices of people with lived experience of drug-related harms are specifically recognised and included in the national efforts to implement the strategy. The response focused on local partnerships and broader initiatives.
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Home Office

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
22 Feb 2023 Angela Constance · Scottish Government, Caroline Hart · Home Office, Marcus Starling · Home Office, Rt Hon Chris Philp MP · Home Office View ↗
29 Jun 2022 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 View ↗
15 Jun 2022 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 View ↗
25 May 2022 Councillor Joanne Harding · Local Government Association, Maggie Boreham · Hackney Council, Professor Dame Carol Black · Combating Drugs, Professor Jim McManus · Hertfordshire County Council View ↗
18 May 2022 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 View ↗
27 Apr 2022 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

33 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Andy Dunbobbin Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales 1
Angela Constance · Minister for Drugs Policy Scottish Government 1
Caroline Hart · Deputy Director for Drugs Supply and County Lines Home Office 1
Charlie Doyle · Assistant Chief Constable British Transport Police 1
Chloe Hartnell · Partner Hodge Jones and Allen LLP 1
Councillor Joanne Harding · Councillor Local Government Association 1
David Sidwick — 1
David Thorne · Assistant Chief Constable South Wales Police 1
Dr Emily Finch · Co-chair of the Recovery Committee Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs 1
Dr Jack Spicer · Lecturer in Criminology University of the West of England 1
Dr Karenza Moore · Lecturer in Sociology of Crime Newcastle University 1
Dr Kojo Koram · Lecturer, School of Law Birkbeck College, University of London 1
Dr Owen Bowden-Jones · Chair Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs 1
Dr Richard Lewis · Drugs lead National Police Chiefs’ Council and Chief Constable of Dyfed-Powys Police 1
John Campbell QPM · Chief Constable Thames Valley Police 1
Junior Smart OBE · SOS Project Founder St Giles Trust 1
Maggie Boreham · City and Hackney Public Health Team Hackney Council 1
Marcus Starling · Deputy Director of the Drug Misuse Unit, Crime Re… Home Office 1
Martin Powell · Head of Partnerships Transform Drug Policy Foundation 1
Niamh Eastwood · Executive Director Release 1
Nicky Hill · Head of Services Abianda 1
Professor Dame Carol Black Combating Drugs 1
Professor David Nutt · Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology Imperial College, London 1
Professor Jim McManus · Executive Director, Public Health Hertfordshire County Council 1
Professor Jo Neill · Professor of Psychopharmacology, Manchester Pharm… Manchester University 1
Professor Ornella Corazza · Professor of Addiction Science Hertfordshire University 1
Professor Roger Knaggs · Chair of the Technical Committee Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs 1
Professor Stuart Reece · Associate Professor of Medicine University of Western Australia 1
Rt Hon Chris Philp MP · Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire Home Office 1
Rudi Fortson QC · Barrister 25 Bedford Row Chambers 1
Serena Kennedy · Chief Constable Merseyside Police 1
Steve Rodhouse · Director General (Threats) National Crime Agency 1
Zoe Metcalfe — 1

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
23 Nov 2022 To cttee Letter from Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire on the Middlesbrough DAT prog…
2 Nov 2022 To cttee Letter from Public Health, Middlesbrough Council on closure of the Middlesbroug…
27 Oct 2022 From cttee Letter to the Minister for Policing and Crime on closure of Middlesbrough Diamo…
27 Oct 2022 From cttee Letter to Project ADDER on closure of Middlesbrough diamorphine assisted treatm…