Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

What training is provided to police (a) officers and (b) staff on the ethical use of police databases; and how frequently that training is updated.

The auditing of police systems is a matter for local forces, who use bespoke IT systems to conduct lawful business monitoring. Forces’ use of such systems is assessed as part of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services’ (HMICFRS) integrity inspection programme. The provision of training is also a matter for local forces, dependent on the specific systems in usePolice officers must adhere to the statutory Standards of Professional Behaviour, which are clear that they must only access or disclose information in the proper course of their policing duties. This is further supported by guidance within the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics, published in 2024, on the accessing of data without authorisation. Allegations of system misuse are investigated by force Professional Standards Departments (PSDs), however the most serious and sensitive allegations of police misconduct are referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)The number of finalised conduct matter, recordable conduct matter and public complaint allegations against police officers and staff is published on an annual basis within the ‘Police misconduct, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-misconduct-statistics. The latest statistics, covering the year ending 31 March 2024 includes the number of allegations broken down by the allegation type, including ‘use of force systems’, where the threshold for recording a conduct matter, recordable conduct matter or complaint has been met. This can be found in the accompanying ‘misconduct allegations by type’ data table: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-misconduct-open-data-tables. This includes information on whether the allegation was referred to disciplinary proceedings, however does not however identify the specific subsequent disciplinary outcome of these proceedings or the characteristics of the officer or staff member in each individual allegation.The Home Office does not hold information on cybercrimes committed by police officers or staff and published Ministry of Justice data on criminal convictions is not broken down by the individual’s occupation. However, the College of Policing’s Barred List statistics do identify the reasons for dismissal. The total number of reasons is higher than the number of actual dismissals because individuals may be dismissed for multiple reasons. In 2023/24, there were 66 instances of unlawful access or disclosure of information which featured as part of a police officer’s dismissal, 5 in respect of special constables and 37 in respect of police staff. Data for previous years is available here: https://www.college.police.uk/article/barred-list The Government has committed to raising standards in policing and, last year, the Home Secretary announced a series of reforms to strengthen the police misconduct system, including a presumption of dismissal for proven gross misconduct and specific offences automatically amounting to gross misconduct The Government is also committed to disrupting and pursuing those responsible for Computer Misuse Act offences. We will continue to ensure we keep the public safe and use all of the levers available to us to achieve this. This includes using our capabilities to pursue those responsible for crime, as well as protecting people and businesses at risk of being victims of crime

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of cannabis-related mental health admissions on NHS finances.

The Department is committed to reducing the harm from all illicit drugs. Any illegal drug use, including cannabis, can be harmful, both from immediate side-effects and long-term physical and mental health problems. It can, for some, have a negative impact on their fertility. Cannabis use can contribute to and exacerbate existing mental health problems or can accelerate their development in people predisposed to mental health problems.No estimate has been made of the annual cost to the National Health Service specifically of cannabis-related health conditions or the impact of cannabis-related mental health conditions on NHS finances. An assessment cannot be accurately made because the data relating to cannabis and mental health related health conditions and admissions is presented across various settings. The diagnosis code for ‘mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cannabinoids’ does not include admissions to mental health hospitals or cannabis-related treatment occurring outside of a hospital setting.Dame Carol Black’s review of evidence related to drugs, published in February 2020, estimated the cost to the NHS of illegal drug use, not substance specific, at £431 million per annum. This includes admissions in secondary care, prison treatment and infectious disease. However, this figure does not include other NHS costs such as primary care or accident & emergency usage so will be an underestimate.

If he will make an estimate of the annual cost of cannabis-related health conditions to the NHS.

The Department is committed to reducing the harm from all illicit drugs. Any illegal drug use, including cannabis, can be harmful, both from immediate side-effects and long-term physical and mental health problems. It can, for some, have a negative impact on their fertility. Cannabis use can contribute to and exacerbate existing mental health problems or can accelerate their development in people predisposed to mental health problems.No estimate has been made of the annual cost to the National Health Service specifically of cannabis-related health conditions or the impact of cannabis-related mental health conditions on NHS finances. An assessment cannot be accurately made because the data relating to cannabis and mental health related health conditions and admissions is presented across various settings. The diagnosis code for ‘mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cannabinoids’ does not include admissions to mental health hospitals or cannabis-related treatment occurring outside of a hospital setting.Dame Carol Black’s review of evidence related to drugs, published in February 2020, estimated the cost to the NHS of illegal drug use, not substance specific, at £431 million per annum. This includes admissions in secondary care, prison treatment and infectious disease. However, this figure does not include other NHS costs such as primary care or accident & emergency usage so will be an underestimate.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting the adult social care sector from proposed increases in the certificate of sponsorship fee.

Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review.However, there are no current plans to exempt the adult social care sector from the certificate of sponsorship fee increase.A provisional estimate of the impact of increasing sponsorship fees is a less than 0.2% increase in the cost of hiring an average skilled worker.

Whether her Department has considered reallocating police resources currently spent on cannabis-related enforcement to other public safety priorities.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of cannabis legalisation on racial disparities in drug-related arrests and sentencing.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of legal cannabis regulation on the (a) workload and (b) costs associated with drug-related (i) policing, (ii) courts and (iii) prisons.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase in the certificate of sponsorship fee on recruitment in the social care sector.

The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025, laid on 21 January 2025, sets out increases to the fee maxima that applies to the Certificate of Sponsorship from £300 to £525. These changes were agreed via collective agreement. If fees increase as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to this Order, an Impact Assessment will be produced by the Home Office.International recruitment has played a valuable role in helping to grow the adult social care workforce. The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth and improve the retention of the domestic workforce. The Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

Whether her Department has conducted an equality impact assessment on (a) the racial disparities in drug law enforcement and (b) how a regulated cannabis market could address these.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

What recent studies her Department has considered on the effectiveness of regulated cannabis markets in reducing adolescent cannabis consumption.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of a legal cannabis market on criminal exploitation of young people by drug gangs.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of a regulated cannabis market on (a) public health and (b) drug-related harms.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of proposed changes to the level of the certificate of sponsorship fee per worker on the adequacy of the funding settlement for adult social care announced in the Autumn Budget 2024.

The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025, laid on 21 January 2025, sets out increases to the fee maxima that applies to the Certificate of Sponsorship from £300 to £525. These changes were agreed via collective agreement. If fees increase as set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to this Order, an Impact Assessment will be produced by the Home Office.International recruitment has played a valuable role in helping to grow the adult social care workforce. The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth and improve the retention of the domestic workforce. The Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reallocating police resources currently spent on cannabis-related enforcement to other public safety priorities.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Whether his Department has considered funding public health campaigns to educate young people on the risks of cannabis use within a regulated market.

Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.The Government recognises the clear medical and scientific evidence of the harms of this drug.The Government will continue to work with our partners to discourage drug use and to alert people, particularly young people, to the potential dangers of cannabis.The Government has a drug information and advice service called Talk to FRANK, which aims to reduce drug misuse and its harms by increasing awareness, particularly for young people and parents. FRANK offers easy to read information on the risks of using cannabis and basic harm reduction advice. Information on cannabis is available at the following link:https://www.talktofrank.com/drug/cannabisThe website also has details of drug treatment services and support organisations.

What discussions she has had with international counterparts from countries that have legalised cannabis on the (a) economic and (b) public health impacts of regulation.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

What recent discussions her Department has had on the regulation of cannabis as a means to improve public health outcomes and reduce the burden on the NHS.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of a legal cannabis industry on UK (a) job creation, (b) investment and (c) economic growth.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

If her Department will make an estimate of the potential annual public spending savings that could be achieved through the legal regulation of cannabis.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a legally regulated cannabis market on tax revenue.

This Government has no plans to legalise cannabis.Cannabis is controlled as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The maximum penalty for possession of a Class B drug is up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.The maximum penalty for supply and production of a Class B drug is up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.