To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to bring forward proposals to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to provide for (a) nurse independent prescribers and (b) pharmacist independent prescribers to prescribe more controlled drugs; and if he will make a statement. (321939)

The Government plan to amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (as amended) when Parliament returns in order to expand the range of controlled drugs that can be prescribed independently by Nurse Independent Prescribers and to enable Pharmacist Independent Prescribers to independently prescribe controlled drugs.