The Thistle in Glasgow, which opened earlier this year, is the first such centre in the UK and is intended to address Scotland’s high drug death rate. Health Secretary Neil Gray told MPs that early signs “suggest the facility is proving successful”, having been used over 2,500 times in its first five-and-a-half months.

Appearing before Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee, Mr Gray said the Scottish Ambulance Service had been called to the site seven times since January and that there had been 35 medical emergencies in that time. He added that those involved would not have survived had those incidents occurred elsewhere.

Despite this, Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson said the government had no plans to support drug consumption rooms. While the facility is operating under a three-year pilot approved by the Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC – who said prosecutions of users at the site are not in the public interest – it remains technically unlawful under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Pressed by MPs, Dame Diana said: “We do not support drug consumption facilities, it’s not our policy and we will not be amending the Misuse of Drugs Act.”

Mr Gray insisted the Thistle is saving lives and called for legislative reform so that similar facilities can be introduced elsewhere. The Scottish Affairs Committee is expected to issue its report on the project later this year.