Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2021 to Question 58293 on Drugs: Misuse, whether a formal consultation process in line with guidelines has been used in developing the drug strategy, as was the case in the 2010 and other previous drug strategies; how existing external experts were chosen; and to what extent the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has (a) been involved in the new strategy's development or (b) provided feedback on the draft.

Like the 2017 Drug Strategy, the forthcoming Drug Strategy has been informed by extensive consultation with key partners in the drugs field. This includes through Dame Carol Black’s review of drugs, which involved significant consultation with external partners to gather information.

The calls for evidence for parts 1 and 2 of the review received responses from a wide range of stakeholders, including members of the public, academics, people working in the substance misuse sector and enforcement partners. Dame Carol also led an extensive programme of consultation events to develop her recommendations on drug treatment for part 2 of her review.

Our Strategy is responding to Dame Carol Black’s review in full. We have built on the research undertaken as part of the review, and have continued to consult external experts in order to shape the approach and interventions set out in the strategy. This includes Dame Carol Black in her role as independent advisor and Dr Ed Day our national Recovery Champion. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ Full Council has also been briefed on our strategic approach and members of the Council have provided feedback.