SCOTLAND’S Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick has visited a medically supervised safer drug consumption facility in Paris to see first-hand how it operates.

The Espace Gaia, near the Gare du Nord, opened in 2016 and has 1200 registered users.

Plans for a similar facility in Glasgow were put on hold last year after Scotland’s top law officer, the Lord Advocate, said it would be illegal unless the UK Government changes the law.

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FitzPatrick said: “My visit provided an invaluable insight into how medically supervised safer drug consumption facilities can work. These sorts of centres exist around the world. What Scotland faces in terms of drugs-related deaths is an emergency and I am convening an expert group to advise on what further changes, in practice or in law, could help save lives and reduce harm.

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“The Scottish Government is supportive of a proposal by Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership to set up a facility similar to Espace Gaia, particularly in light of the growing number of HIV cases in the city.

“For this to happen, the UK Government needs to change the law. If they refuse, we want them to devolve this responsibility so the Scottish Parliament can act.”