Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons his Department charges the rate that it does for processing licence applications for medical cannabis.

Fees for all drug licences issued are charged on a full cost recovery basis, reflecting the total cost of processing that case from start to finish. Where a fee is payable, it is charged in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs (Fees) Regulations 2010 and payable by the ‘applying’ organisation (e.g. an NHS trust). Fee payments are not ordinarily met by individual patients.

The Government is committed to reviewing the fees paid for licenses that are awarded as a result of the advice of the Expert Panel. That review will take place urgently and will conclude before summer recess, with any legislation laid before the House at the first available date following its conclusion.