Oral Answers to Questions

Joanna Cherry Excerpts

Wednesday 13th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[John Lamont]

I am happy to work with all colleagues across the United Kingdom to advance the fishing industry, and I am happy to meet the hon. Member to discuss how we do that together.

[Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) (SNP)]

11. What discussions he has held with Cabinet colleagues and the Scottish Government on the devolution of drugs policy to Scotland.

[Marion Fellows (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)]

12. What discussions he has held with Cabinet colleagues and the Scottish Government on the devolution of drugs policy to Scotland.

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr Alister Jack)]

Illicit drugs destroy lives and devastate communities. The United Kingdom Government’s 10-year drug strategy sets out ambitious plans, backed by a record £3 billion over three years, to tackle the supply of illicit drugs and build a world-class system of treatment and recovery. This is a UK-wide strategy, and there are no plans to devolve drugs policy to the Scottish Government.

[Joanna Cherry]

The Lord Advocate has announced that she is not going to prosecute drug users for simple possession offences committed within a pilot safer drugs consumption facility. Both the Home Affairs Committee of this House and the Scottish Affairs Committee have recommended that the UK Government support such a pilot in Glasgow by creating a legislative pathway under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 that would enable such a facility to operate, or by devolving the power to the Scottish Government. Both cross-party Committees of this House are very clear that the evidence shows that those measures could be lifesaving, so when will the Secretary of State act to save lives in Scotland by persuading his Government to drop their intransigence on this issue?

[Mr Jack]

It was disappointing that the Scottish Government were not prepared to work with the UK Government on Project ADDER. That offer was made with supporting funding. The E in ADDER is for “enforcement”. I believe the police and the Procurator Fiscal Service should be enforcing the laws in Scotland, not decriminalising drugs, because enforcement helps to drive people to health solutions.