The following Early Day Motion has been tabled in the UK parliament
"That this House notes the serious harm caused by drugs; recognises the need for evidence-based policy making with a clear focus on prevention and harm-reduction; and calls on the Government to establish an independent panel tasked with carrying out an impact assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, reviewing the approach adopted by other countries, and making recommendations for reform."
It has so far been supported by
| Tom Brake | 09/11/2011 | Carshalton & Wallington | Liberal Democrat | Proposed | ||
| Peter Bottomley | 09/11/2011 | Worthing West | Conservative | Seconded | ||
| Bob Ainsworth | 09/11/2011 | Coventry North East | Labour | Seconded | ||
| Caroline Lucas | 09/11/2011 | Brighton, Pavilion | Green | Seconded | ||
| Julian Huppert | 09/11/2011 | Cambridge | Liberal Democrat | Seconded | ||
| Paul Flynn | 09/11/2011 | Newport West | Labour | Seconded | ||
| John McDonnell | 09/11/2011 | Hayes & Harlington | Labour | Signed | ||
| Andrew George | 10/11/2011 | St Ives | Liberal Democrat | Signed | ||
| Jonathan Edwards | 10/11/2011 | Carmarthen East | Plaid Cymru | Signed |
You can follow the list of signatories of this EDM here, and find out more about EDMs here.
Transform urges UK supporters to contact your local MP and encourage them to support this EDM (see comments below - this can really help, not least because there are many EDMs and MPs are not always aware of them all). You can also be clear that it is a call for an evidence based policy - not any given policy position, or party position.
Transform has been campaigning for an Impact Assessment for a number of years (see here for more information). You can find out more about Impact Assessments by reading this briefing produced by Transform and the International Drug Policy Consortium.
14 comments:
I contacted Jonathan Edwards yesterday, he signed it the same day, so sometimes contacting an MP can work.
Brilliant! - will update blog
Do you guys have a template letter perhaps that could be used to send to my MP?
This is effectively excusing the government for their crimes of misusing the Act as they are merely carrying out the will of parliament if the Act is to blame. Nonsense! They are misusing the potentially excellent Act.
IA's can look at administration of policy/law as well as differemt laws. The idea of IA is to look at different apporaches - something like Portugese decrim for example - which probably would need changes to primary legislation.
Changes needed only to subordinate legislation Steve, Government have numerous adaptable and flexible powers to make licences and provisions for different classes of persons with respect to different controlled substances in different contexts via ss31(1)(a), 7(1)-(2) together with the additional complimentary powers under sections 22(a)(i).
www.knowdrugs.net/2011/10/charlotte-walsh-untapped-possibilities-for-the-misuse-of-drugs-act/
True, but that doesnt change the point on the scope and remit of an IA - which is what the EDM is about. An IA can look at the misuse of the legislation aswell. You should be welcoming this - I can see nothing in that wording you can possibly take issue with. For Gods sake, choose your battles.
Hmm, well Steve you see the point I am making is very widely misundertood - I recall the main sponsor of the Libdems call Ewan Hoyle recently saying 'lets rip it (the MDA) up and start again', and whole problem with the current impasse is that even the courts imagine that what the govt is doing is applying the will of parliament. This is the vital distinction, yet again you degrade the actual face of an accurate analysis - I would welcome it if they understood what the dynamics are. It is down to govt to use this law to regulate persons in connection with harmful substances. This initiative will be fine if its spotted straight away that what we are addressing is a misuse of the misuse of drugs Act.
Once there is agreement on how things should be done, then it will happen - whether that is within existing legislation or not.
Winning that argument is what is important at this stage and IA offers an opportunity to look at the evidence of how different apporoaches impact on policy outcomes. That is hugely important - whether or not it can happen under the MDA or not is a side issue.
I dont want to have this discussion after every single blog post. Its boring and not moving anything forward. Lets carry this on by email if we must.
Well I didn't hear back about the template letter but instead wrote my MP this letter in terms I hope he can understand and appreciate:
Dear Rushanara Ali MP
I’m sure you will join with me in agreeing that drugs and alcohol are a terrible problem here in the UK and around the world and particularly for young and poor people, of which our constituency has a high number of both. It is clear to me that programmes that combine both prevention and harm reduction are the best way to help people less fortunate to stabilise their use and eventually come off drugs and alcohol for the good of their health, the benefit of their families and society as a whole – a worthy cause I think you’ll agree.
I’d like to point out to you the following Early Day Motion that has been tabled in Parliament and urge you to sign it on my behalf for the good of people caught in the despair of drug and alcohol addiction, their friends and families and the people and organisations that help them:
EDM number 2404 proposed by Tom Brake on 09/11/2011
"That this House notes the serious harm caused by drugs; recognises the need for evidence-based policy making with a clear focus on prevention and harm-reduction; and calls on the Government to establish an independent panel tasked with carrying out an impact assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, reviewing the approach adopted by other countries, and making recommendations for reform."
That the Misuse of Drugs Act, it’s application, it’s intended and unintended consequences and outcomes has not been reviewed since it’s inception is an aberration and does no justice to the many people caught in the desperate cycle of drug and alcohol addiction and the criminal justice system. Government policy in any area should be based on rigorous evidence, therefore will you sign this Early Day Motion so that this 40 year old policy can be aligned correctly with today’s requirements, that experts can assist the Government to take a look at best practise or even just so our position can be reviewed to see if what little money we as a country have left is being spent correctly and not wasted on needless areas or entrenched dogma.
I hope that on my behalf, as my Member of Parliament, for all these points you will sign this motion. Please do inform me of your intentions to do so or otherwise.
Regards
Great Letter Adam (sorry - not had time to put up a template but i think youve done a good job)- well done, and let us know what the response is.
Also sent a message to my MP. Not quite as good as Halawi's but hopefully it'll be fruitful! I'll let you know the result.
Dear Oliver Colvile MP,
I am deeply troubled by the negative effects drug misuse can have on the wellbeing of individuals, communities and our society as a whole.
It saddens me to believe that, as it stands, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 may be exacerbating some of the problems associated with drug misuse. Furthermore, I fear that some changes to the act in recent years seem to have been made in an effort to reduce pressure from the media, rather than to reduce harm for the (mis)users and those affected by them.
I strongly believe an evidence-based approach to drug policy is long overdue, especially in these times of economic strife when acts like this one should be checked for efficiency.
Therefore, I would like to bring to your attention the following Early Day Motion that has been tabled in Parliament which calls for an Impact Assessment on the Misuse of Drugs Act:
EDM number 2404 proposed by Tom Brake on 09/11/2011
"That this House notes the serious harm caused by drugs; recognises the need for evidence-based policy making with a clear focus on prevention and harm-reduction; and calls on the Government to establish an independent panel tasked with carrying out an impact assessment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, reviewing the approach adopted by other countries, and making recommendations for reform."
For all of those directly and indirectly affected by drug misuse in Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport I would greatly appreciate it if you would sign this motion.
Please may I ask that you to inform me of your intentions to do so or otherwise.
Yours sincerely,
So I got a reply... not sure whether to bother responding with counter arguments as I would most likely get stone-walled...
Dear Adam,
Thank you for your email about EDM 2404 and I apologise for not getting back to you sooner. It is the run down to Christmas which is always a very busy time in Parliament.
The Government and I believe that drugs cause serious harm. They ruin lives and cause misery to families and communities and are estimated to cost the country £110 billion a year. Of course it is right to focus on evidence-based policy making.
The Government's priorities are clear; it wants to reduce drug use, crack down on drug-related crime and disorder and help addicts come off drugs for good. However, there are no quick fixes - what the Government wants to achieve is a generational shift, to get people to take responsibility for their actions and free themselves from the vicious cycle of drug and alcohol dependency. Speaking with Plymouth PCT we have made excellent headway on the drug problems in the city but we still have some way to go with alcohol dependency.
The Government's cross-departmental drugs strategy recognises that focusing on reducing the harms cause by illicit drug use is no longer enough. The Government is moving to a system focused on recovery which does not maintain heroin users on prescription alternatives, unless absolutely necessary. It is tightening the net on unscrupulous drug dealers and protecting vulnerable young people by preventing them from falling into a cycle of dependency. The Government's plans will encourage record numbers of people into treatment. The Government is also tackling the problem of drugs in prisons by piloting Drug Recovery Wings and increasing security measures to reduce the supply of drugs into prisons.
I do not think that we currently need an independent panel to carry out an impact assessment; the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs already keeps under review the situation regarding controlled drugs in the UK in line with its statutory duties. You may also like to know that I have chosen not to sign any EDMs as they cost the taxpayer over one hundred and fifty pounds each time a name is added to the motion. I do not feel this is something I can agree with in these difficult economic times when EDMs do not directly influence legislation.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Oliver
Sadly after a month and two follow up emails, I have had only automated replies. Disappointing to say the least that she couldn't even find the time to reply to say she wasn't interested in signing the motion like the replay to Adam Celis!
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