What are synthetic drugs?
New, synthetic versions of harmful drugs, including synthetic opioids and synthetic cannabinoids, are increasingly found in UK’s illegal drug markets.

The Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill was introduced on 20 May 2020. Second Reading in the House of Commons is due to take place on 9 June 2020.
Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill 2019-21 (500 KB , PDF)
In the Queen’s Speech in December 2019, the Government said it would legislate to “ensure the most serious terrorist offenders stay in prison for longer”. Following the attacks at Fishmongers Hall in November 2019 and in Streatham in February 2020 the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act 2020 was passed as emergency legislation to change release arrangements for certain terrorist offenders (in England and Wales and Scotland). At that time the Justice Secretary said wider measures would follow.
The Government has said the purpose of this Bill is to better protect the public from terrorism by strengthening the law which governs the sentencing, release and monitoring of terrorism offenders.
The Bill would:
The Government has published Explanatory Notes. A Gov.uk page for the Bill provides links to a Fact sheet, Equality Statement, European Convention on Human Rights Memorandum and an Impact assessment. There is also a Bill page on the Parliament website.
The provisions of the Bill extend and apply to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Counter-terrorism is a reserved matter, although sentencing (including release provisions) is devolved to Scotland and Northern Ireland. For details see the Explanatory Notes, page 15 and Annex A.
Some provisions of the Bill would come into force on commencement, some two months after the Act is passed and others on a day to be set out in regulations. See the Government’s Fact sheet and the Explanatory Notes, page 42, for details.
Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill 2019-21 (500 KB , PDF)
New, synthetic versions of harmful drugs, including synthetic opioids and synthetic cannabinoids, are increasingly found in UK’s illegal drug markets.
There will be a Westminster Hall debate on state support for victims of terrorism at 1:30pm on 10 July 2025. The debate will be opened by Andy MacNae MP.
A short bill proposing that a successful appeal against removal of British citizenship would no longer restore the person's citizenship immediately.