Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on tackling sales of THC liquids containing spice to young people.

The Government is committed to tackling the supply of illegal drugs, including online, and the harms associated with their misuse.

Home Office Ministers and officials work closely with Ofcom, as well as social media platforms, on the issue of illegal online content.

We have strengthened the regulatory framework to address online harms and the unlawful sale of controlled drugs online is a priority offence under the illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act 2023. In-scope providers are legally required to implement measures to protect their users and to remove illegal content from their platforms, including that related to the sale of THC liquids containing spice. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the Act, is monitoring compliance with the regime.

The National Crime Agency also works with partners in the UK and internationally to identify offenders operating online, and to take down UK-based sites committing offences.