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Children with Allergies: School Safeguarding
03 July 2025
Lead MP
Chris Bloore
Redditch
Lab
Responding Minister
Stephen Morgan
Tags
Education
Word Count: 10277
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Chris Bloore raised concerns about children with allergies: school safeguarding in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
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.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
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.
Amanda Hack
Lab
North West Leicestershire
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.
Becky Gittins
Lab
Clwyd East
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.
Chris Bloore
Lab
Wirral South
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.
Daniel Francis
Lab
Bexleyheath and Crayford
Acknowledges the work of Allergy UK and advocates for allergy dietitians through GP surgeries. Supports comprehensive training for teachers to handle severe allergic reactions.
Ian Sollom
LD
St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire
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.
Jodie Gosling
Lab
Nuneaton
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.
Leigh Ingham
Lab
Stafford
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.
Neil O’Brien
Con
Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
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.
Sarah Edwards
Lab
Tamworth
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 Morgan
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
Government Response
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.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.