FOI release

21626 - Special purposes and other special purpose licenses for cannabis

We have a received a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following:  The definition for ‘special purposes and other special…

Details

We have a received a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following: 

The definition for ‘special purposes and other special purpose licenses’ for cannabis.

Under the data protection act can you give me a list of cannabis importation licenses granted in the last 4 years?

Copy of the Home Office’s disability discrimination policy (both internal and external) and the contact details for the department which handles all complaints which would arise from obligations not being met by certain home office departments under said policies and the Home Office Policy Equality Statement (HO PES).

We released the following information on 14 February 2012.

Section 7(4)(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (the 1971 Act) makes the provision for the Secretary of State to issue licences for the purpose of research and licences for ‘other special purposes’. The 1971 Act does not provide a definition of ‘special purpose’.

Licences issued within the provisions of Section 7(4)(a) of the 1971 Act for research purposes would also include such purposes as clinical trials. The issue of licences for other special purposes has historically, and currently continues to be, applied to industrial hemp cultivation.

The applications for such licences in either category (industrial or research) are considered on a case by case basis by both ministers and government officials when deciding whether to issue a licence for those activities.

The number of licences issued over a 4 year period -

2008 & 2009 - Nil; 2010 - 4; 2011 - 6

To ensure disability is embedded into appropriate policies and procedures there is no one specific policy/guidance to cover disability as a separate issue. This is with the knowledge that disability matters are considered in relation to the specific topic as apposed to a general approach.

There is information available on the Home Office’s website in relation to equality and diversity, and this includes our Diversity strategy which sets out our ambitions for equality and diversity between 2010-2013, both in relation to staff and in delivering external services. This is open to members of the public and as such we refer you to the following website address: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/our-organisation/equality-information/

The Diversity Strategy Programme Board monitor progress against the Diversity Strategy which includes effective implementation of statutory obligations on equality and diversity. Our progress against the Strategy is also published on the Home Office website in addition to further information relating to ‘due regard’, which can be captured within Policy Equality Statements , in order to demonstrate compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Information is readily available to members of the public who wish to make complaints regarding various aspects of the Home Office. As such I refer you to the following website address which has the information you require http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/complaints/

Published 14 February 2012