Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will (a) publish a new drug strategy and (b) consult drug treatment providers in the preparation of such a strategy; and if she will make a statement.

We will continue to build on the Drug Strategy launched in 2010 and tackle drugs as a key driver of crime. This balances three key themes to reduce the demand for drugs, restrict the supply and support individuals to recover from their dependence.

There are positive signs that this approach is working: there has been a long term downward trend in drug use over the last decade, the number of heroin and crack cocaine users in England continues to decline, and more people are recovering from their dependency now than in 2009/10.

We continue to work with external partners including treatment providers and the Government's independent experts, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, in developing new policy.