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 …
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third Report - Drugs | HC 198 | 31 Aug 2023 | 71 | Responded |
We conclude the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 require reform.
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 supply of controlled drugs.
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.
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 available. The Home Office must reform the classification system and …
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 adopt advice to reduce the classification of a controlled drug. …
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 No other ACMD report remains unpublished and withholding this one contravenes established practice and undermines the ACMD’s transparency.
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 that, the Government must explain in its response to this …
An evidence base for a safe consumption facility in the UK is needed.
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.
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 the Government and the Scottish Government. The Government must work …
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 how best to implement the service. In particular, we recommend …
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 start of the summer 2024 festival season. The scheme must …
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 with suppliers to ensure that a sustainable supply is available …
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 the health and criminal justice sectors could not be secured …
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 be provided to Foundations Medical Practice in order to re-establish …
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 from its 2020 report. However, we are concerned that there …
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.
| 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 ↗ |
| Date | Direction | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 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… |