THE UK Government "will not interfere" with plans to set up a drug consumption room in Scotland, a Tory minister has said.
Policing minister Chris Philp, who works in the Home Office, made the statement as he responded to a letter from SNP councillor Allan Casey outlining Glasgow’s plans and support for decriminalisation of drugs.
Conservative MP Philp said in a delayed letter to Casey that although Westminster doesn’t support the safe drug use facility, the UK Government respects the independence of the Scottish legal system.
READ MORE: What are safe consumption rooms and how do they work?
Philp said: “The UK Government does not support drug consumption rooms as we have significant concerns that they risk condoning and encouraging drug misuse, undermining our efforts to reduce the number of drug users and stem the criminal supply of drugs to users.”
He added: “For that reason, they will not be introduced in England and Wales and will remain unlawful under UK drug legislation.
"We do, however, respect the independence of the Lord Advocate as Scotland’s prosecutorial authority and will not interfere with plans to establish a drug consumption room in Glasgow, providing that those powers are exercised lawfully and the conditions stipulated in her statement are met.”
The east end drug consumption room will be based in the Hunter Street Health and Social Care Centre (below).
They will then go to an injection area where where clean syringes and equipment will be supplied with staff on hand to deal with any problems.
It could potentially open next year, it is understood.
The SNP’s councillor Casey also wrote to MSP Elena Whitham outlining the council’s position on the drug “public health crisis”.
A reply from the minister’s office said she would be delighted to accept an invitation to meet him to discuss work being done.
The letters will be presented to this week’s full Glasgow City Council meeting.
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