Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to increase the number of take-home naloxone programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing local needs and commissioning drug prevention, treatment and harm reduction services to meet these needs. This includes making sure they have sufficient coverage of needle and syringe programmes, and take-home naloxone to prevent overdose deaths from heroin and other opioids.

The Government is encouraging and supporting local areas to maintain needle and syringe programmes, and expand the provision of naloxone with guidance, advice and tools.