Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Rejected
The Thistle's full effectiveness is inhibited without key harm reduction equipment and services.
Conclusion
Having access to equipment such as single-use tourniquets, testing drugs onsite, and allowing visitors to inhale drugs have all been highlighted as key to The Thistle achieving its maximum effectiveness. Without these, a full and fair evaluation of The Thistle will be inhibited. (Conclusion, Paragraph 126) 50
Government response summary AI-generated
The government rejects the implied need to enable access to equipment like tourniquets or allow drug inhalation at The Thistle, stating that such provisions are unlawful under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and it has no plans to make legislative changes.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government · verbatim extract
Rejected
Regarding tourniquets and inhalation: Under section 9A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 it is unlawful to supply articles which may be used for the administration of a controlled drug. The provision of tourniquets and other such equipment including safer inhalation pipes would constitute a breach of the law. The UK Government does not support drug consumption rooms (DCRs) or the expansion of facilities at The Thistle to enable users to inhale drugs and has no plans to make legislative changes to enable the provision of such paraphernalia as part of its operation. The Scottish Government has stated that in order to supply such equipment, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) would need to apply to the Lord Advocate for the necessary exemptions; how to respond to such a request would be a matter for the Lord Advocate. Regarding drug testing: It is possible for drug checking services to obtain a Home Office licence, and the Home Office keeps an open dialogue with any potential applicants who wish to apply for a licence to ensure the strict requirements attached to drug checking are fully understood. While we do not usually comment on the status of drug checking licenses, with the permission of the applicant we are able to say that the Home Office controlled drug licence for the Glasgow drug checking service, which is a service being operated separately to The Thistle, was issued in October. This licence was issued to the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board for its premises at 55 Hunter Street, Glasgow. This enables the provision of substance misuse services including heroin assisted treatment and drug checking services. The Thistle safer drug consumption service, which also operates separately at this site, is not covered by this licence.
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