Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations he has received from the Scottish Government on requesting devolution of the powers under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (a) in whole and (b) in part.

The Crime and Policing Minister met Angela Constance MSP, the Minister for Drug Policy in the Scottish Government, earlier this year to discuss the best way to tackle drug misuse across the UK, including opportunities to work collaboratively on this shared agenda. No recent representations have been made by the Scottish Government to devolve powers under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. While the legal framework on the misuse of drugs is reserved to the UK, the Scottish Government has its own approach to tackling drug misuse in areas where responsibility is devolved, including healthcare, criminal justice, housing, and education. The Government has no plans to devolve the powers under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Tackling drug misuse is a priority for this government and it clear that action is needed across all four nations to reduce the harms caused. We are committed to working across the UK and continuing to have regular contact with the Scottish Government on this issue.