Homelessness charities have welcomed the government’s decision not to implement guidance on drug use. They feared it would have resulted in homeless drug users being refused housing and staff being criminalised.

The Home Office consulted last year on its proposals to change section 8 (d) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to make it an offence to allow the administration or use of all controlled drugs on all premises.

A Home Office spokesperson said the government was not "backing down" on implementing the proposed change, "just postponing it".