Key information
Date: Thursday 22nd February 2024
Time: 10:00am
Motion detail
Emma Best AM proposed, and Andrew Boff AM seconded, the following budget-related motion:
"This Assembly notes that London's drug poisoning death rate is at its highest in more than 20 years, with 56.6 deaths recorded per million people in the capital last year. This is the highest drug death rate since 2000, when 58.4 deaths were recorded per million people in London. (ONS, 2022)
This Assembly, therefore, calls on the Mayor, in his Final Draft Consolidated Budget for 2024-25, to:
- commit £150,000 to fund two drug testing centres, based on a pilot model used in Bristol, to provide free, confidential and professional drug checking, as well as other healthcare intervention, training and workshops, with the aim of reducing drug-related harm, and;
- examine the impact of the two drug testing centres on drug-related harm and consider funding additional drug testing centres.
£150,000 would allow two testing centres to operate North and South of the river, initially for 12 sessions (one day each month) in partnership with an existing venue providing support for drugs harms. This figure is based on costings from a successful pilot project in Bristol, which launched this month."
Following debate and upon being put to a vote, the budget-related motion was agreed with 12 votes in favour and 11 abstentions.