Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what resources her Department has allocated to publicise the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

Communications activity to make people aware of the intended blanket ban on psychoactive substances has been developed by Home Office officials, working closely with and agencies such as the National Police Chiefs Council and Public Health England. We have consulted with external partners such as Angelus Foundation, Mentor and Adfam. Activity will explain the legislative changes and consequences to sellers, young people and other users and signpost support and advice. In addition we have also planned proactive press features for the commencement of the act.

Value for money is being maximised through the use of existing internal resources, materials developed at no cost in-house and free to use channels, such as press, publicity and social media to raise awareness of the ban.