Drugs: Prohibition and Criminalisation

Baroness Smith of Llanfaes Excerpts

Wednesday 11th November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

The noble Baroness raises an important point, and I hope I can assure her that the Government take that seriously. We have asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to look at writing four reports for us, particularly focused on women and girls. That will include the role of drugs in domestic abuse and in wider violence against women and girls. We have also set up a working group to review matters concerning the very issue she raises, which is the recording of drug-related deaths and how they are defined across all parts of the United Kingdom.

[Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (PC)]

My Lords, drug poisoning accounts for 37% of deaths among prison leavers in Wales. Will the Government review whether current drug criminalisation policies are helping or hindering efforts to reduce post-release overdose deaths?

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

I will obviously reflect on what the noble Baroness has said, and we are always looking at what we need to do on drugs generally. This year, in fact, we have introduced a number of orders in this House which have put controls on certain drugs. Along with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice, we will look at the impact of drugs in prison, but overall, as I said to the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, drug deaths are down. That is a trend we want to continue to encourage, and one I will be working towards as Minister.