News release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday 16th July 2009

PM hears case for Impact Assessment of drugs law

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has held an important meeting with Drugs Policy campaigning group Transform, and Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat MP for Montgomeryshire to hear the case for an impact assessment of drug laws.

Danny Kushlick, Head of Policy and Communications at Transform Drug Policy Foundation said after the meeting:

"Impact assessment is a standard tool in Government for scrutinising policy and exploring alternative options that could achieve better outcomes.  Our drug laws have not been assessed effectively since their enactment nearly forty years ago and the world is a very different place now. “

"I am confident that over the coming months and years, the drug laws will receive the level of parliamentary scrutiny currently reserved for the introduction of new legislation.  Impact assessment offers us all a major opportunity to reframe the drug policy debate in a less emotive and more productive manner. “

"We are extremely grateful to the Prime Minister for considering our request. Mr. Brown was interested to hear about the 2003 No.10 Strategy Unit Report which he had not seen, which shows that supply side enforcement cannot work in the long term, and actually creates huge collateral damage. "

Commenting after the meeting, Lembit Öpik said:

"While the Prime Minister didn't commit to implementing our request there and then, I am satisfied that he truly did listen.  The impact assessment won't happen tomorrow, but this meeting is a start of a serious dialogue.  We don't want to bully anyone into going along with this research - nor could we!  But I'm confident that in the months ahead we will persuade the government that this is in everyone's interests, and I'm extremely grateful to the Prime Minister for holding this meeting to hear our case."

Lembit Öpik added: "Overall, the Prime Minister had a useful discussion with the delegation.  No commitment has at this stage been made, but he clearly takes seriously any proposals which have the potential to help us address the misuse of drugs, and all the associated social and health costs which go with it."

ENDS

Notes for editors

• An analysis of the 2003 No10 Strategy Unit Report can be read at http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Policy_General_Strategy_Unit_Drugs_Report_phase_1.htm
• Richard Wilkinson is Emeritus Professor of Social Epidemiology at Nottingham University, and author of ‘ The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better’.
• Government guidelines on Impact Assessments are available at http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/bre/policy/scrutinising-new-regulations/preparing-impact-assessments/page44077.html

Contact

Danny Kushlick, Head of Policy: 07970 174747

About Transform

Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a charitable thinktank that exists to reduce harm and promote sustainable health and wellbeing by bringing about a just, effective and humane system to regulate and control drugs at local, national and international levels.