Written question WQ89049

The UK Government brought forward secondary legislation on 5 September to make nitrous oxide a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with potential prison sentences and unlimited fines for unlawful supply and possession. The legal classification of drugs is not a devolved matter and remains a responsibility at UK Government level.

As part of the consultation the UK Government has recognised there are many legitimate uses of nitrous oxide and the recent consultation on the ban explored how best to protect people and communities from the harmful effects, while exempting legitimate uses. We have made all APBs, and other partners, aware of the consultation by the UK Government.

Although Wales does not have the powers on many aspects of drug legislation, including this area, our Substance Misuse Delivery Plan is rooted in a harm reduction approach which recognises substance misuse as a public health issue as opposed to one that is solely related to criminal justice. The overall aim of the Plan continues to be to ensure that people in Wales are aware of the dangers and the impact of substance misuse and to know where they can seek information, help and support.

We will continue to work with partners (particularly our Area Planning Boards (APBs) and substance misuse third sector), on areas such as Nitrous Oxide, to ensure we maximise all the powers we have at our disposal to continue to develop our unique Welsh response to substance misuse.