PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
DRUG TESTING AT SUMMER FESTIVALS (4 June 2018)

That this House acknowledges with great sadness the deaths of two young festival-goers after taking drugs at the Mutiny Festival in Portsmouth; notes that a further 15 people reportedly attended hospital with drug-related symptoms; regrets that such tragic and needless loss of life is an annual feature of the summer festival season; recognises the potential of drug testing services, which analyse the content and safety of recreational drugs, to reduce the risk of serious harm and death associated with drug use; further notes evidence from drug testing services such as The Loop which shows that many drug users decide not to take an illegal substance, or decide to take less than originally intended, after learning what it contains; strongly welcomes the announcement by Bestival that it will offer drug testing at this year's festival in an effort to prevent drug-related deaths; believes that drugs policy should be led by the overarching principle of harm reduction; and therefore urges the Government to work with local authorities, police services and festival organisers to facilitate and encourage the roll-out of drug testing at all summer festivals, in recognition of the fact that such a simple step will ultimately save lives.

Sponsored by:
Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat)