Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 11 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the provisions of free tours of the Thistle drug consumption facility to members of the public represents value for money.
The Government’s position is that the provision of organised visits to the Thistle supports transparency, accountability and an informed understanding of the service as a publicly funded health intervention.
These visits are carefully managed, time-limited and scheduled prior to the arrival of service users to avoid disruption to clinical operations and to ensure the dignity, privacy and safety of those assessing the facility are protected. They are also done by staff in their own time so there is no cost associated with them.
Being able to provide these visits also helps to dispel some of the myths and inaccuracies that have been reported around the Thistle. Glasgow HSCP have encouraged anyone interested to contact them to arrange a visit.
They are therefore considered entirely proportionate and informative with no additional use of public resources.