Letter from Minister for Drugs Policy, 29 December 2021
Minister for Drugs Policy
Ministear airson Poileasaidh Dhrugaichean
Angela Constance BPA/MSP
Gillian Martin MSP
Convener
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
The Scottish Parliament
29 December 2021
Dear Convener,
Drugs Death Taskforce – Chair and Vice Chair
Further to my email on 22 December, I am writing to advise the Committee that Catriona Matheson (Chair) and Neil Richardson (Vice Chair) have resigned from their positions on the Drug Deaths Taskforce.
I am sorry they have decided to take this course of action and I have put on record my thanks for all their work since the Taskforce was established in July 2019.
As you know, my priority is to accelerate our work on reducing drug deaths and harms with a keen focus on delivery and implementation. This is why I asked for a final set of recommendations from the Taskforce by July 2022.
My officials have made contact with the other members of the Taskforce to reassure them that I think it’s important that the Taskforce completes its work and that I will be in touch with them in January to discuss the way forward.
I hope this information is helpful to Committee Members and should there be any further questions about this, please let me know. I’ll provide a further update in the New Year.
Yours sincerely,
Angela Constance
Minister for Drugs Policy