Drug Classification

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Health – in the House of Commons at 3:36 pm on 30 March 2010.

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Photo of David Hanson David Hanson Minister of State (Home Office) (Crime and Policing) 3:36, 30 March 2010

My right hon. Friend has taken the right decision, and that is the key issue for the House today. He has taken that decision on the basis of advice from the advisory council. He received a verbal report from Professor Iversen yesterday afternoon and a report in writing will be presented to the House before consideration of the orders, which I hope will be next week.

This is not a new issue. My right hon. Friend Jacqui Smith, when Home Secretary, was aware of this matter in March last year, and she discussed action on it with the advisory council, which commissioned some work. I wish to kill stone-dead the suggestion that the action by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in relation to the sacking of Professor Nutt has delayed publication of the report. The intention was always to produce a report for the meeting of the council on 29 March, and that report was delivered verbally to my right hon. Friend yesterday. He has taken the view that it was of sufficient importance and urgency to take urgent action, so he has laid an order and I hope that the House will in due course support it.