To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress the Joint Combating Drugs Unit has made; and what policy work relating to combating drugs she is currently undertaking with other departments.

The Joint Combating Drugs Unit (JCDU) continues to work closely with departments to ensure we take a coordinated, whole-system approach to tackling drugs and drug-related harms.

JCDU maintains strong cross-system governance at national level, supported by work to further develop the national outcomes framework. At a local level, the unit continues to work with Combating Drugs Partnerships (CDPs) to support a joined-up approach to delivery, and recently published an independent evaluation which found that CDPs have strengthened multi-agency working with strong leadership and clear governance key to success (www.gov.uk/government/publications/process-evaluation-of-combating-drugs-partnerships/process-evaluation-of-combating-drugs-partnerships). The JCDU is also supporting Dame Carol Black, the Independent Advisor to Government on drugs, on a programme of expert-led work to improve our understanding of system challenges, as well as engaging with international partners to share information and best practice.

Alongside this, the Government continues to make progress on a range of department-led work to prevent drug use, improve treatment and recovery support, and support enforcement partners to tackle drug supply. This includes record numbers engaging with drug and alcohol treatment, wider access to life-saving naloxone, and increased drug seizures and county lines closures.

Tackling these issues is central to delivering the Government’s missions to make our streets safer, improve health, widen opportunity and support growth.