The scientific data was summarised in the joint position paper from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and Committee on Toxicity, which is available at the following link:

https://acnfp.food.gov.uk/JointpositionpaperfromACNFP%26COTonestablishingprovisionalADIforpureformCBDinfoods

Further detailed information will be published on the Food Standards Agency’s website in safety assessments relating to the novel foods applications for cannabidiol, as required by Article 23 4 (e) of Novel Foods Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, which are in preparation.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Government’s arm’s-length bodies, including the Food Standards Agency, on a range of issues.

The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold International Humanitarian Law, and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately, and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Distinction must be made between civilians and combatants and only direct attacks against suspected combatants and other military objectives are to be made. Both the Prime Minister and the former Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect civilians. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law.

The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold International Humanitarian Law, and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately, and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Distinction must be made between civilians and combatants and only direct attacks against suspected combatants and other military objectives are to be made. Both the Prime Minister and the former Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect civilians. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law.

The available evidence indicates that immediate action is needed to prevent death and illness from lack of sufficient safe water. According to the United Nations, 50 per cent of water infrastructure has been destroyed or heavily damaged. In response, the UK is calling for sustained, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid including food, water, fuel and medical supplies can reach civilian populations. This includes calling for humanitarian pauses to ensure emergency aid can be distributed and calling for the Kerem Shalom crossing to be opened.

The UK Government has also announced £30 million in humanitarian funding and has already sent more than 51 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This funding will support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in responding to critical food, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians.

The available evidence indicates that immediate action is needed to prevent death and illness from lack of sufficient safe water. According to the United Nations, 50 per cent of water infrastructure has been destroyed or heavily damaged. In response, the UK is calling for sustained, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid including food, water, fuel and medical supplies can reach civilian populations. This includes calling for humanitarian pauses to ensure emergency aid can be distributed and calling for the Kerem Shalom crossing to be opened.

The UK Government has also announced £30 million in humanitarian funding and has already sent more than 51 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This funding will support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in responding to critical food, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians.

The UK position is clear: all sides must abide by their international obligations and must respect International Humanitarian Law. The Foreign Secretary and his ministerial team receive legal advice on all matters related to foreign policy, including the conflict in Israel and Gaza. The UK Government is closely following the security situation in the Middle East and maintains a regular dialogue with international counterparts. We will continue to use all the tools of British diplomacy to sustain the prospects of peace and stability in the region.

My hon. Friend has a long-standing and principled view on these matters. I do not share his view and nor do the Government. Nor do I think that the latter part of his question and the specific points that he made are likely to come about.

As a friend, we will always urge Israel to take every possible practical precaution to avoid harming civilians, and indeed to act within international law, as Israel’s President has said its armed forces will do, while recognising the incredible complexity and difficulty of the situation on the ground. It bears repeating that Hamas is a terrorist organisation that embeds itself inside a civilian population. We always have to remember that. Israel is taking every possible practical step to avoid harming civilians, and we will do everything we can to provide humanitarian support to the area.

I routinely meet with Welsh Government Ministers to discuss a variety of issues. In addition, my officials regularly engage with Welsh Government officials regarding R&D support for Welsh businesses and universities, including health-based R&D.

The UK Government is investing £39.8 billion on R&D between 2022 and 2025, the largest amount ever. This will contribute to the Prime Minister’s ambition to cement the UK as a science and technology superpower by 2030, in which businesses and universities in Wales will play a key role.

I have recently visited all of the universities in Wales and I have also visited many businesses within the Welsh Life Sciences and MedTech sectors. I have greatly appreciated seeing the innovative technologies that are contributing to the Welsh R&D landscape because of excellent research and collaboration between academia and industry.

Drug policy and the associated legislation regarding its use and possession is reserved. I have not had any discussions with the Scottish Government regarding research into psilocybin.

Support for businesses and universities in Northern Ireland to conduct research is a devolved matter for the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy.

However, the Government is committed to supporting economic growth and driving transformational investment in Northern Ireland. In conjunction with Invest Northern Ireland and local partners, the UK Government will host the Northern Ireland Investment Summit in Belfast in September to showcase Northern Ireland’s internationally renowned sectors, including advanced manufacturing, software and technology, financial & professional services and emerging life & health sciences sector.

No assessment has been made by the Department for Work and Pensions of the potential impact of psilocybin on the health, or ability to work, of disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health. This includes the potential impact of psilocybin on the health and ability to work of people with long-term health conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), who have invested £1.1 million in a randomised controlled trial to examine if it is feasible, safe and effective to use psilocybin to treat people with treatment-resistant depression. NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the use of psilocybin in the treatment of depression, addiction and other chronic conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

NIHR infrastructure is supporting psilocybin research via the NIHR King’s Clinical Research Facility and the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre where researchers are developing and evaluating the efficacy and safety of psilocybin therapy for use in the National Health Service and other healthcare settings.

The Ministry of Defence and the Office for Veterans' Affairs jointly commissioned the independent review to better understand the impacts and implications of the pre-2000 policy relating to LGBT people serving in HM Armed Forces. The review underlines Defence's unwavering commitment to understanding how best to support its veteran and LGBT community.

Lord Etherton recently concluded his independent review and submitted his report and recommendations to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Minister for Veterans' Affairs in the Cabinet Office. The Government will now consider the report and recommendations and decide which Departments are best placed to take action. Defence is committed to publishing the report and responding in full in due course after giving the report due consideration, as per the terms of reference.

Home Office policy on drug testing has not changed. It is a long-established legal requirement, under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, that a controlled drugs licence is needed to lawfully undertake activities including the possession, supply or production of controlled drugs.

We have been clear that organisations providing drug testing services need to apply for a Home Office licence where they are undertaking activities with controlled drugs.

The Home Office has not received any licence applications from organisations wanting to provide drug testing services at festivals this year. The Government’s guidance on applying for a controlled drug licence sets out the timelines required for the Home Office to consider an application. These timelines enable the Home Office to fulfil its legislative duties and its international obligations under the United Nations Drug Conventions. Similarly, fees for licence applications are set out in statute and are applied universally to prospective licensees.

The Home Office has no plans to commission the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to review drug testing.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is an independent Non-Departmental Public Body, sponsored by the Home Office.

The operation of the Council is a matter for the ACMD, although my Department is aware that the ACMD follows and continues to develop its own standard operating procedure for using evidence in its reports.

The ACMD routinely publish their reports which can be found on Gov.uk.

There is clear evidence associating conversion practices with a range of significant harms. The Government remains committed to protecting everyone from these abhorrent practices, including those who are targeted on the basis of being transgender. We will shortly publish a draft Bill and consultation response setting out our approach. The draft legislation will go for pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee in this parliamentary session.

The Home Office has not received an advance draft of the ACMD’s barriers to research – part 2 report. I look forward to receiving the ACMD’s advice on this important topic.