No changes for any legislation in the UK

The UK Government will not consider changes to drug legislation which would see possession of small amounts of illicit substances decriminalised.

The Home Office has insisted there would be no change to the law, including the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, despite recommendations from the Scottish affairs committee (SAC) and the Scottish Government and the health and social care committee.

The SNP also overwhelmingly decided to back decriminalisation at its party conference in Aberdeen last month.

Sarah Wollaston, chairwoman of the health and social care committee, said drug use was now a “public health emergency”.

She added: “A radical approach to drug policy is needed to tackle that emergency.

“And I am delighted to see that the Scottish affairs committee has reached the same conclusion as we did – that responsibility for drugs policy should be transferred from the Home Office to the Department of Health and Social Care.

“The committee also echoes our conclusion that an evidence-based, harm reduction approach should be taken to drug policy.

“That should include the decriminalisation of the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “The government has no plans to decriminalise drug possession.

“It would not eliminate the crime committed by the illicit trade, nor would it address the harms associated with drug dependence and the misery this can cause to families and communities.”

At a previous evidence sessions, drugs minister Kit Malthouse told the SAC the UK Government was doing “nothing” to reduce stigma around drug use.

The SAC also recommended allowing for safe consumption rooms, which again is not being entertained by the UK government.

The Home Office spokesman added: “There is no legal framework for the provision of drug consumption rooms... a range of crimes would be committed in the course of running such a facility.”