Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Second Special Report of Session 2022–23 of the Home Affairs Select Committee entitled Spiking: Government Response to the Committee’s Ninth Report, HC508, when she plans to update Parliament on whether the Government intends to introduce a specific criminal offence for spiking; and for what reason her Department did not update Parliament on that matter before 26 October 2022 as set out in that Government response.

The government is absolutely committed to updating Parliament on the need for a specific criminal offence for spiking.

The Home Office informed the Home Affairs Select Committee on 11 October that the update, while forthcoming, is to be delayed. This is due to recent changes in government and the death of Her Late Majesty.

We are aiming to provide this update before the Christmas Recess.