Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Baroness Featherstone and Greg Mulholland(10 years ago)
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Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD)
12. If she will undertake an assessment of the effects of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
The Minister for Crime Prevention (Lynne Featherstone)
The Government’s drugs strategy sets out a balanced approach to tackling drug misuse, including controls under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. There are positive signs that our approach is working, such as a long-term downward trend in drug use, and people going into treatment are more likely to free themselves from dependency than ever before. An assessment of the drugs strategy is under way.
Lynne Featherstone
The coalition Government have no current intention to decriminalise drugs. Drugs are illegal where scientific and medical analysis has shown they are harmful to human health. We recognise that drugs are a complex and evolving issue, so we continue to develop our strategy and look at other evidence-based approaches to help us to respond to emerging threats and challenges.
Greg Mulholland
I am delighted to see my hon. Friend join the ministerial team. She is aware of the unanimous vote a few weeks ago for an impact assessment and cost-benefit analysis on this matter, but does she agree that to be tough on drugs we need to focus more police time on chasing drug dealers?
Lynne Featherstone
I could not agree more. Our focus absolutely has to be on those who deal, smuggle and do the most harm. That is where police time needs to be spent.
Socio-economic Equality Duty
Debate between Baroness Featherstone and Greg Mulholland(14 years ago)
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.
Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.
This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record
Lynne Featherstone
The hon. Lady makes my point for me. Substantive legislation is extremely important; this was not substantive legislation.
Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD)
Does my hon. Friend agree that the Opposition’s fixation on socio-economic equality rather than equality of opportunity is the reason why, sadly, during 13 years of Labour, our young people’s chances were determined by how much their parents earned. That brings shame on Opposition Members.
Lynne Featherstone
I could not agree more. It is to the shame of the Labour Government that, after 13 years, they left this country more unequal than ever before.