House of Commons · Westminster Hall
03 July 2025 · 9 other contributors · 10,277 words
Opened by Chris Bloore Lab Redditch
Responding minister: Stephen Morgan
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Chris Bloore raised concerns about children with allergies: school safeguarding in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
The hon. Member proposes the creation of a cross-departmental allergy tsar who could advise the Government on all the ways that allergies affect the sufferer.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
One in three people in the UK now live with allergic disease. Hospital admissions for allergic reactions have risen by over 160% in the past 20 years, and 50% of children are now affected by at least one allergic condition. Every year, approximately 43,000 new cases of child allergy require care.
Supports Jodie Gosling's comments, emphasizing that local authorities have cut support for nutritional services impacting parents of children with allergies significantly. Questions the adequacy of current measures and calls for clearer training and access to emergency EpiPens.
Endorses the need for mandatory training and allergy policies, sharing personal experiences of feeling isolated due to food allergies at school and challenges faced with school activities and trips.
Acknowledged the contributions of other MPs and thanked Baroness Kennedy for her work on allergies. Emphasised the importance of personal experiences shared by Becky Gittins and Jodie Gosling.
Acknowledges the work of Allergy UK and advocates for allergy dietitians through GP surgeries. Supports comprehensive training for teachers to handle severe allergic reactions.
There are 680,000 pupils in England with an allergy, leading to many anxious parents. The incidence of food allergies nearly doubled between 2008 and 2018, resulting in a significant increase in hospital admissions over the last two decades.
Describes personal experience with complex allergies and the difficulties faced by children in schools due to insufficient training and support. Highlights inconsistency and danger associated with allergy management advice.
The hon. Member spoke about his personal experience with his nephew who had a severe allergic reaction at school, highlighting the need for provisions in early years settings as well.
Acknowledged previous government initiatives such as Natasha’s law and improvements in training for teachers. Called for further cross-Government coordination and additional measures to ensure more schools have adrenalin auto-injectors.
Parents want to know that their children can go to school safely, but they might equally have a reaction when they are not at school; 70% of parents of children with allergies report that they have experienced an absence because of an allergy.
Government Response
Stephen MorganThe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
Acknowledged the importance of the debate and contributions from MPs, noting progress made such as Natasha’s law and statutory school food standards. Emphasised ongoing efforts to improve allergy management in schools. I absolutely understand that allergies can be worrying for parents and pupils. When parents send their children to school, it is only right and natural that they expect them to be kept safe. For parents of children with allergies, there is understandably an additional level of concern. Allergies are therefore a highly individual condition, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach... The Department for Education works closely with the Food Standards Agency on all matters relating to school food. Beyond this, families are also able to play an important role in managing their child’s condition.