Drug strategy

That this House notes that ONS data released on 3 August 2021 revealed a record number of drug-related deaths in 2020, with 4,561 deaths in England and Wales and 1,339 deaths in Scotland, higher than any other European country; further notes that almost half of homicides and half of acquisitive crimes are drug-related; is appalled that all but 10 local authority drug and alcohol treatment services in England have experienced a real-terms budget reduction, with four seeing reductions of more than 40 per cent; welcomes the Government’s commitment to working closely with the devolved Administrations to develop effective drug policies; further welcomes the appointment of Professor Dame Carol Black as ongoing independent advisor on drugs; and reaffirms the urgent need for Government to fulfil the recommendations of Carol Black’s Review of Drugs.