Aylesbury MP's Bill for drug tests in Approved Premises at third stage
Rob Butler is hoping his Bill can become law after it passed its second reading last week
If the Bill becomes law it would enable Approved Premises to create a comprehensive framework for drug testing.
The wide range of drugs being tested for will include new psychoactive substances and prescription and pharmacy medicines.
If the new Bill is approved it will bring Approved Premises in line with the substance testing regime in prisons.
MP for Aylesbury, Rob Butler, told Greatest Hits Radio:
"In recent years an increasing number of residents of Approved Premises have died for reasons that are linked to drugs.
"So, testing for drugs will obviously hep to avoid the chances of that happening.
"Drugs are a major problem in committing crimes, and so, anything we can do to identify those and then help those people who are taking drugs, will reduce the chance of them committing further offences.
"I'm really pleased the bill has been supported across the whole House of Commons, it was supported by the Minister of Justice and Policing.
"It was also supported by the Labour front bench as well as lots of back bench colleagues."
The Bill has also been supported by the Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, who said they have put an extra ÂŁ80 million into treatment for substance abuse.
Rob Butler continued:
"I'm very hopeful that it'll get to the next stage of the legislative process and ultimately, hopefully, become law."