HC Deb 27 April 2004 vol 420 c935W
Paul Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction's recent report on drug consumption rooms; and if he will make an assessment of the case for introduction of such schemes in the United Kingdom. [166822]

Caroline Flint

The Home Office and the Department of Health are currently reviewing the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction's (EMCDDA) report.

The supervision of prescribed drugs in front of trained staff is a well-established practice. The UK will not contravene or undermine UN Conventions or the Misuse of Drugs Act and facilities for supervising the consumption of illegal drugs would fall foul of these. Therefore no authority could be given to the piloting of initiatives to supervise the consumption of illegal drugs.