No recent assessment has been made of the potential merits of introducing \u2018harm reduction centres\u2019 for drug users, including any implications for UK drug legislation. Such centres are sometimes referred to as drug consumption rooms or safer consumption facilities and are understood to be locations where drug users could lawfully consume controlled drugs that they have purchased from criminal dealers.<\/p>
Specifically in relation to Scotland, the Government will not interfere with the lawfully exercised prosecutorial independence of the Lord Advocate in respect of a pilot drug consumption room in Scotland. We will consider any evidence emerging from evaluation of that pilot in due course.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dame Diana Johnson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-30T16:21:51.937Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Drugs: Rehabilitation"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing harm reduction centres for drug users.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"} ], "uin" : "982"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1668550", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1668550/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government endorses the considerate use of fireworks. We believe that the majority of individuals who use fireworks do so in a responsible and safe manner.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government takes the issues associated with the sale and use of fireworks seriously and we understand the concerns that some people have about the potential for distress to be caused by them. That is why there is a comprehensive regulatory framework in place for fireworks, that aims to reduce the risks and disturbances to both people and animals.<\/p>
<\/p>
It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause unnecessary suffering to animals covered by the Act, and this includes through the misuse of fireworks. Users of fireworks need to use them responsibly and be aware of animals close by, and those found guilty under the Act of causing animals unnecessary suffering can face up to five years\u2019 imprisonment.<\/p>
<\/p>
Lower noise fireworks are commercially available to consumers to purchase if they wish to, potentially reducing distress to vulnerable groups and animals.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> Animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA also provide pet owners with advice on how to look after their pets during fireworks: How To Keep Your Pets Safe During Fireworks | RSPCA<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4861", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Robbie Moore"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Keighley"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Robbie Moore"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "981"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-15T15:53:08.487Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Fireworks: Agriculture"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of fireworks on farms and farming.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4866", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alexander Stafford"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rother Valley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alexander Stafford"}
], "uin" : "982"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461837", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1461837/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " To qualify for The Queen\u2019s Platinum Jubilee Medal recipients must be in an eligible public sector role in a frontline emergency service accessed via a call to the 999 emergency telephone number, or equivalent, and this does not include St John Ambulance volunteers.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4503", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Philp"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Croydon South"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Philp"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-05-17T09:55:22.103Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Platinum Jubilee 2022: Medals"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether St John Ambulance volunteers will be awarded the Platinum Jubilee Medal.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4805", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alicia Kearns"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rutland and Melton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alicia Kearns"}
], "uin" : "982"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1314436", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1314436/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "