Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce new powers to close shops selling legal highs.

I refer to the Written Ministerial Statement of 12 December 2013, Official Report, column 58WS, in which I announced that the Coalition Government would conduct a review into new psychoactive substances led by a panel of experts.

I have now considered the expert panel’s report on the new psychoactive substances review including consideration of possible responses to the existence of "head shops". The Government will respond to the expert panel’s report and its recommendations shortly.

The Coalition Government has already banned hundreds of new psychoactive substances. We have published guidance to support local authorities and continue to work closely with law enforcement to tackle this reckless trade.