Requests to the UK Government to devolve powers in dealing with drugs deaths: FOI release

Information requested

Information on any request by the Scottish Government to the UK Government to devolve powers to them to deal with the drugs deaths problem in Scotland and any requests to deal with the drugs deaths problem by way of a health emergency (between 1st January 2015 to 10th August 2021). 

Response

We have interpreted this request to include correspondence sent to the UK Government and also events (such as debates or statements) in the Scottish Parliament were these issues have come up, and also wider events.

Attached is a copy of some of the information you requested which relates to correspondence sent by the Scottish Government to Ministers in the UK Government.

With regards the detail of the additional events where this request has been made, some of that information is available from the Scottish Government Parliament website (What was said in Parliament and Official Reports | Scottish Parliament Website). Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you, however, below is a list of dates where these issues were raised in Parliament:

• 14 April 2017 – debate on substance use in Scottish Parliament
• 19 April 2018 – debate on substance use in Scottish Parliament
• 5 September 2019 – Ministerial statement on drugs to Scottish Parliament
• 30 January 2020 – Debate on drugs and alcohol in Scottish Parliament
• 15 December 2020 – Ministerial statement on drugs to Scottish Parliament
• 14 January 2021 – Debate on drugs in Scottish Parliament

In addition, other events where these requests have been made, and where there is a public record available, include:

9 July 2019 – Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing gave evidence to Scottish Affairs Committee - Oral evidence - Problem drug use in Scotland - 9 Jul 2019 (parliament.uk)

If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

Other events where these requests were made, and for which there is no public record, include:

• 31 October 2018 – Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing met with Victoria Atkins MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism (minute of meeting withheld under Section 28, subsection 1)
• 26 February 2020 – Scottish drugs summit - Glasgow
• 27 February 2020 – UK drugs summit – Glasgow
• 11 September 2020 – Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing met with Kit Malthouse MP, Minister of State for Crime and Policing (minute of meeting withheld under Section 28, subsection 1)
• 17 September 2020 – Second UK Drugs Summit
• 8 October 2020 – Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing met with Jo Churchill MP, Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care (minute of meeting withheld under Section 28, subsection 1)
• 11 February 2021 – Minister for Drugs Policy met with Kit Malthouse MP, Minister of State for Crime and Policing (minute of meeting withheld under Section 28, subsection 1)
• 24 February 2021 – Minister for Drugs Policy met with Jo Churchill MP, Minister for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care (minute of meeting withheld under Section 28, subsection 1)​​​​​​

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI - 202100227354 - Information Released

File type

19 page PDF

File size

1.5 MB