Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to commission research into (1) the experience of Portugal in decriminalising the possession and use for personal consumption of harmful drugs, (2) that country's policy of reducing harm caused by drugs to individuals and families, and (3) the possibility of legitimising the supply of such drugs, by excluding criminal networks.

The Home Office’s report Drugs: International Comparators, published in October 2014, looked at Portugal’s response to drug use. The Government has no plans to commission further research into Portugal’s drug policy.

This Government has no plans to decriminalise drug misuse. Our approach on drugs remains clear - we must prevent drug use in our communities, support people through treatment and recovery, and tackle the supply of illegal drugs.

Our new Drug Strategy sets out a balanced approach which brings together police, health, community and global partners to tackle the illicit drug trade, protect the most vulnerable and help those with a drug dependency to recover and turn their lives around.