Commons Chamber

Tuesday 17th March 2026

(began 2 hours, 17 minutes ago)

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None Portrait Q3. What discussions he has had with his counterparts in countries to which foreign national prisoners will be returned on ensuring that prisoners serve the full term of a sentence handed down by the UK courts. (908322)
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by a foreign national, and that robbed her mother of her daughter and her grandsons, of their much
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David Lammy Portrait Rt Hon David Lammy MP, The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Tottenham, Labour)
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And also a reduction in funding >> And also a reduction in funding of 23%. He knows 90% of cases criminal justice cases are dealt criminal justice cases are dealt with by the magistrates court, 10% go to the Crown court. 7% of those people plead guilty. That leaves 3%. Our bill is to deal with a small proportion of that in a new division, so we can do that swiftly. I've explained for the reasons before about demand in the system, about the length of trial, why it is my judgement that these have to be sustained changes as were made by the Thatcher government at the end of the 80s, and the Labour government at the end of the 70s.

That is what I proposed. It will now go to committee and Report stage and get the debate and discussion in the usual way.

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Speaker. Number seven, please.

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Minister this government is dedicated to increasing transparency in our courts. We're expanding Free Crown Court expanding Free Crown Court sentencing transcripts to all victims who request them. We are also rolling out recording to all magistrates courts so that all criminal cases heard in open court will now be recorded, as well as working with our judiciary to see

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working with our judiciary to see where we can go even further in terms of transparency. Mr. Speaker, the Courts and Tribunals Bill does indeed seek to increase transparency of court proceedings in several.
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None Portrait Q8. What steps he is taking to support victims' rights. (908328)
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nursery in Twickenham. Her victim's parents were only given six days notice that she was being deported
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None Portrait Q15. What plans his Department has to provide adequate funding for the Crown Court. (908336)
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Anna Dixon.
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None Portrait Ministerial statement: Meningococcal Disease Outbreak
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paramount that we stick to the facts, which is what I intend to do.
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Wes Streeting Portrait Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ilford North, Labour)
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facts, which is what I intend to do. This is the current situation as of 930 this morning, UK HSA has confirmed four cases of Group B meningococcal disease, with another 11 cases under investigation. The 11 cases under investigation. The two deaths are associated with this cluster. The majority of cases link back to the club chemistry nightclub over the dates of the fifth, sixth and 7th of March, and their associated networks. Club chemistry is currently closed voluntarily going forward.

Mr. speaker, these figures will be updated publicly by UK HSA each day at 9:30 a.m. Let me now turn to the timeline of this outbreak. UK. HSA was notified about the first case on Friday the 13th of March, in line with established protocol, health officials began identifying and tracing the patient's immediate close contacts, who were offered prophylactic antibiotics as a matter of urgency. On Saturday, UK HSA were in touch with the University of Kent to ensure they had the necessary support, advice and guidance and to establish where the patient was living.

Also on Saturday, the French authorities alerted UK HSA to a second confirmed case in France from an individual who had attended the University of Kent. Both cases lived in private accommodation and at that stage there was no apparent link between the two. At 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, hospitals reported that a number of severely unwell young adults were presenting with symptoms consistent with meningococcal disease. Contact tracing of these individuals began immediately and continued into Sunday morning, March the 15th.

All those traced were offered precautionary antibiotics. So far, 700 doses have been administered. Recognising the scale of the potential outbreak. At 10 a.m. on Sunday, UK, HSA stood up a full scale response, including preparations for more widespread distribution of antibiotics on campus by 5 p.m. on Sunday, those antibiotics were in place and distribution began to students in the two halls of residence where we were aware of cases and by 6 p.m. a public health alert was issued. Mr Speaker.

It is important that the House and the wider public understands that even before the public health alert was issued, students and young people who had been in close contact with suspected cases were being offered antibiotics. This is precisely what one would expect as a rapid response, and I am confident UK HSA acted as quickly and as comprehensively as possible. In addition to cases involving students at the University of Kent, there were two cases identified involving sixth formers in year 13, one of whom has sadly died.

UK HSA made contact with the headteachers at both schools first thing on Monday morning, and have worked closely with schools to provide information, advice and support, including a letter to parents that was issued that same day. We are working closely with DfE on wider communications to schools across the Kent area, and a briefing with schools has taken place this morning. Mr. speaker, the strain associated with this outbreak is meningitis B, known as Menb. It is uncommon, as we have seen, a serious and potentially lethal strain of meningococcal disease.

The onset of illness is often sudden and early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are vital. It doesn't spread very easily. The bacteria is passed to others after a long period of close contact, for example, with living with someone in shared accommodation through prolonged kissing or sharing vapes and drinks. However, the symptoms are also easily mistaken for other common conditions, even for something like a hangover. And so, Mr. Speaker, let me now set out the current advice from UK HSA.

Anyone who attended club chemistry on March the 5th, sixth or seventh and anyone who believes they were in close contact with someone who's confirmed or suspected to have meningitis should attend a treatment centre and receive antibiotics. There are four centres open in Canterbury today, with 11,000 doses available on site. Details about the location of these centres are available on the UK HSA website and are being promoted by the UK, HSA, the NHS. My department, schools and the university as well as the BBC and I encourage all media outlets to do the same.

There is no need to book an appointment. A single course of antibiotics is highly effective in preventing the contraction and spread of this disease. In 90% of cases. If you become worried about yourself, your child, or a friend, particularly if symptoms are getting worse, please seek medical help urgently. Anyone with symptoms should call NHS 111 or in an emergency, dial 999 to seek medical attention. Mr. speaker, people are understandably asking about a vaccine. From 2015. The Menb vaccine has been available on the NHS as part of routine childhood immunisation immunisations, but clearly most students would not be vaccinated given the severity of the situation.

I can confirm to the House that we will begin a targeted vaccination programme for students living in halls of residence at the University of Kent in Canterbury, which will begin in the coming days. UK HSA will provide further advice on other cohorts in the coming days. On the question of wider eligibility, we obviously follow the expert independent advice of the Jcvi. In light of this latest outbreak, I will be asking them to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines. I will do so without prejudicing their decision, because we have to follow the clinical advice on this.

Mr. speaker, I will keep the House updated as the situation unfolds,

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House. Sir, the Secretary of State. Stuart Andrew thank. You, Mr. Speaker, and I'm

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You, Mr. Speaker, and I'm grateful to the Secretary of State for advance sight of his statement and for the clarity he has provided and for the clarity he has provided to the House this afternoon. Our thoughts, too, are with the families of the two young people who have so tragically lost their lives. I cannot imagine the pain they must be going through at this difficult time. This will also be difficult time. This will also be an extremely distressing time for parents, students, staff and the wider community across the southeast.

Especially as I understand two more cases have just been announced. Indeed, yesterday
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Stuart Andrew Portrait Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP (Daventry, Conservative)
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friends of mine were very anxious about their own son who was in the vicinity over the weekend. I also vicinity over the weekend. I also want to pay tribute to the NHS staff, public health teams, school and university leaders and all and university leaders and all those working at pace to respond. I welcome what the Secretary of State has set out on the daily publication of figures. The scale up of antibiotic provision and the up of antibiotic provision and the decision to introduce a targeted vaccination programme for students in halls of residence, alongside seeking further advice from Jcvi.

However, there remain a number of important questions. First on the timeline as there have been concerns raised out there. The Secretary of State has set out the sequence of events in detail, but can he be clear about the threshold used for wider in light of this outbreak? He also set out that headteachers were contacted on Monday morning. Can he clarify when those schools were first identified and whether there is a need to review how quickly educational settings are brought into the response, given that cases were identified several days beforehand.

Secondly, on the nature of the outbreak, while many cases are linked to a single venue, can he confirm whether all cases are believed to be part of one cluster, or whether there remains a risk of multiple sources of infection? Thirdly, on escalation, given the involvement of both a university and schools, can the Secretary of State set out what criteria are being used to determine when more extensive interventions are required across educational settings? This situation will undoubtedly cause concern among families, particularly with the end of term approaching.

Can he therefore set out what steps are being taken to manage the risk of onward spread as students return home, and what advice is being provided to families and local health services in other parts of the country? Can he also confirm that public health messaging is fully consistent across schools, GPS, local authorities and NHS services so that families receive clear advice wherever they turn and what steps are being taken to counter misinformation online. Where false claims may undermine confidence in public health advice.

Can he also confirm that local laboratories, intensive care capacity and public health teams are fully resourced to manage any increase in cases, and that supply chains for antibiotics and vaccines are resilient should further clusters emerge. Finally, while I welcome the targeted vaccination programme and the decision to seek further advice from Jcvi, the Secretary of State has acknowledged that most students would not have been routinely vaccinated against meningitis B, and protection among older teenagers is clearly not as strong as it is in infancy.

Does he accept that this creates a particular vulnerability among older teenagers and young adults? And while he and will he ensure that any further advice on eligibility or wider catch up measures is brought forward as quickly as possible? Mr. speaker, this is a serious public health situation. It is right that the response, though, remains calm, evidence led and focussed on protecting patients and supporting

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those families affected. He. Firstly, Mr. Speaker, can I thank the Shadow Secretary of State thank the Shadow Secretary of State for his constructive response and support as we respond to this support as we respond to this incident, and also welcome the way in which he has rightly brought in which he has rightly brought scrutiny to the response and I should say from the outset, Mr. Speaker, that obviously, once we're through this, we will obviously look at the handling of the UK's response at every point, because inevitably there are always things that we can learn and seek to do better, and the balance that needed
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Wes Streeting Portrait Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ilford North, Labour)
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to be sought in terms of public communication, Mr. Speaker, was to make sure that people were informed make sure that people were informed in a timely way, but also to make sure of two things. Firstly, we didn't spread unnecessary anxiety and concern, and secondly, that and concern, and secondly, that having been made aware of the risk that there was a channel through which people could receive support. So as I set out in the timeline in response to individual cases, thorough contract tracing was undertaken.

Antibiotics were offered in in those direct contacts. In those cases. And then by 5 p.m. on Sunday, we had the antibiotics more widely available than 6 p.m. public communication went out. The schools were identified during the course of Sunday. That wasn't a straightforward experience. And in the case of those schools, the two schools Simon Langton Grammar School, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham, were both contacted first thing on Monday. We're also looking at Norton Knatchbull School in Ashford, where there may potentially be another case, and we are working closely with with those schools.

They were notified on Monday morning and we've stood up wider school briefing. We will look carefully at whether we could have done more, more quickly to identify those schools and to make contact ahead of the Monday morning, the shadow Secretary of State asks about the criteria for educational settings and the sort of wider availability of of of vaccination. We are looking at this actively with UK, HSA and will make announcements about further cohorts in the coming days.

In terms of local NHS capacity, the NHS in the South East region are supporting UK HSA, who are the lead agency in the response to the bacterial meningitis outbreak. Kent and Medway ICB have stood up and are currently operating a hub at Kent University site to deliver prophylaxis to students, and second site has been open to. We've obviously made sure that in responding to patients. Presenting at hospital that appropriate support is in place for those hospitals and the Shadow Secretary of State also asks about supply of antibiotics and vaccination.

We're confident that we have the right levels in place to respond, and obviously, as we think about potentially widening cohorts, we'll make sure that supply is available in a timely and

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effective way. Naushabah Khan thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his statement, and I particularly welcome his announcement that he's reviewing the ongoing use of the vaccine to a the ongoing use of the vaccine to a wider cohort, given that the university is at Kent, also have campuses in Medway. Could he just inform me what work he's doing with the universities to ensure that the spread across other campuses is monitored on a regular basis, and that if there is any potential for this to spread further, that that has been reviewed regularly.

Thank you.
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Alison Bennett Portrait Alison Bennett MP (Mid Sussex, Liberal Democrat)
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unreasonable for young people and their families elsewhere in the country to be wondering whether they should be seeking catch up vaccines. Young people will not have been protected by the men B have been protected by the men B vaccine available to those born after 2015. Is the Secretary of State confident that there is sufficient stock to deliver protection to all those who need it? protection to all those who need it? And as well as talking to the Jcvi, will the Secretary of State involve meningitis now, who have called for teenagers and young people born prior to 2015 to be vaccinated against meningitis B on the NHS? Mr Speaker vaccinations rates are falling in the UK, including for meningitis.

To this end, all politicians and all political parties have a moral duty to support science over conspiracy theories. It is deeply regrettable that certain parties have not been responsible in this respect. In recent months. I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues are worried that these avoidable deaths will become more common. Should this narrative persist. We must encourage those communities and healthcare workers who are not currently taking up vaccines. To do so, we must build trust to tackle disinformation and encourage people, regardless of where they live, to take up life saving vaccines.

Thank you.

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Jo Stevens can I thank the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for her response and also strongly her response and also strongly endorse what she said about the importance of vaccination when it comes to determining which vaccines are available and to which cohort. Obviously, we follow the advice of Obviously, we follow the advice of Jcvi, but I really hope that if there's one good thing that can come out of an awful situation, it's the the general public awareness of the importance of taking up vaccinations where they
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Wes Streeting Portrait Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ilford North, Labour)
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are available. They remain one of the best public health tools available to us. And it is, on one hand, a very good thing that there are few people alive in this are few people alive in this country today who, you know, remember the dark days that where this country didn't have a National Health Service and didn't have vaccination available for common treatments? It's wonderful that we treatments? It's wonderful that we now live in a country where there are very distant memories of some of those everyday conditions being widespread killers, but there is also a real risk of a return to those Victorian conditions because of that misinformation.

Anti-Science, irresponsible political positioning that we see in certain corners of even this House. So I really hope that that politicians in particular, will think carefully and responsibly about our shared duty to the public to help people be protected in terms of the specific concerns raised, the public health risk to the wider population remains low, but we are actively contact tracing and offering antibiotic prophylaxis to those in close contact with cases. The antibiotics are really effective in, and it's one course and is effective in 90% of cases.

So we are actively contact tracing. But once again, I emphasise if for people watching, if you or someone you know develops symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia, seek medical help urgently by by calling one one 1 or 9 nine nine, particularly if symptoms deteriorate. And if you're one of those students at the University of Kent who may have left campus and would otherwise have been visiting one of those four sites, we're making arrangements for you to be

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able to see your GP and receive the antibiotics. They're Sojan Joseph.

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They're Sojan Joseph. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Honourable Secretary of State for the statement. I want to pay the statement. I want to pay tribute to all the health leaders in Kent and the school leaders for in Kent and the school leaders for their calm and quick actions yesterday and over the weekend, I was able to get a briefing from UK HSA yesterday morning and also was able to visit my local hospital, William Harvey Hospital, where they have made an immediate changes to any to care.

Those patients was
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Wes Streeting Portrait Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ilford North, Labour)
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spread. And this may be. If you live with in the same household as live with in the same household as someone and there's intimate contact such as kissing, sharing of contact such as kissing, sharing of vapes, drinks, those sorts of things, that's where the risk exists of spread. So this is not exists of spread. So this is not like some of the other respiratory conditions that we've seen more conditions that we've seen more recently. And it is important people understand how this disease is spread, because I think people may find that reassuring.

But also we've got, I think, a range of symptoms that can present that can include a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass, sudden onset of high fever, severe and worsening headache, stiff neck, vomiting and diarrhoea, joint and muscle pain, dislike of bright lights, very cold hands and feet, seizures, confusion or delirium, and extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking. Now there's you know those symptoms could also apply to a wide range of other conditions. So as ever, if in doubt, the best thing to do is to seek medical advice, whether that's calling 111 in an emergency, dialling 999, or indeed seeing your GP.

But I urge everyone to share the public health information as it's disseminating online so we can spread facts rather than misinformation. Committee.

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Mr. speaker. I would like to share, of course, my condolences with those families my condolences with those families and communities affected by this. I cannot begin, as the Secretary of State said, to imagine what they State said, to imagine what they must be thinking and feeling during this time, and also to thank those staff who have been involved in the staff who have been involved in the response. I echo Secretary of State's hope that from this tragedy will come greater public awareness.

will come greater public awareness. But may I also add to that an increased laser like focus on vaccination and immunisation from the highest levels of government. He may be aware that the Select
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Layla Moran Portrait Layla Moran MP (Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
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Committee did a one off inquiry into vaccination and immunisation. I have to be honest with him. It is I have to be honest with him. It is one of our strongest letters we have ever sent the department, we have ever sent the department, we have deep concerns. We use words like complacent, which, by the way, I don't think apply to this specific case. I think I do believe specific case. I think I do believe that the UK HSA have taken this incredibly seriously and the mobilisation has happened.

But I mobilisation has happened. But I have to say, despite not because of underlying resilience in the current system with the Secretary of State undertake to look at what we have sent him and his Department and he undertake himself to want to lead this response, not just for

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this incident, but for the whole of vaccination trends in this country. From now on. Sarah state.

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Sarah state. Can I firstly welcome what the chair of the Select Committee has said about the response to this particular incident, and she is right to press more broadly on the right to press more broadly on the issue of vaccination. If I think back to the winter campaign we've just run, it was more successful just run, it was more successful than last winter. But directly to her point about complacency, I would be the first to say that even with that improvement, I still don't think we are doing well enough as a country when it comes to vaccination rates.

I am particularly concerned about childhood vaccine. I can give her
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Wes Streeting Portrait Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ilford North, Labour)
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the assurance that not only will I and our new public health Minister look very carefully, and I welcome look very carefully, and I welcome to the chamber and the front bench. We will look at that very carefully and take that very seriously and reply both directly to the committee and in terms of actions with the seriousness that the with the seriousness that the letter warrants, but also just reassure her. I'm already talking to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for education, Secretary of State for education, at what more we can do together as the Department for Education and the NHS Department for Health and Social Care, to make sure that we are improving childhood immunisation as well as wider

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vaccine uptake across the population. Kerry McCarthy thank you, Mr. Speaker, and. I'd just like to.

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I'd just like to. Add my name. To the all the people who are sharing that their hearts are going out to everyone affected by this out to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy that's unfolding. It's particularly to people in Sittingbourne and Sheppey, many of whom are students who attend the universities and Canterbury who go to schools in Faversham, and of to schools in Faversham, and of course, lots of constituents who are staff there as well. It's going to be particularly hard on my constituents.

Sue, whose son died of meningitis a few years ago, and she's been tirelessly campaigning for a change in the law on duty of care for people in those situations. Matthew could be alive today if action was taken swiftly enough by action was taken swiftly enough by the people who were with him. So I just ask the Secretary of State, just ask the Secretary of State, what more can we do to make sure that everyone on the ground across Kent and more widely, really knows Kent and more widely, really knows what to do in case they see the signs and symptoms of meningitis.
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Helen Whately Portrait Helen Whately MP (Faversham and Mid Kent, Conservative)
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university student who has died. Sixth formers and students mix in Sixth formers and students mix in the same crowded venues in Canterbury, so the government must fully consider the risk to fully consider the risk to schoolkids as well as the students in the university's. I'm grateful to the NHS and the UK HSA for the to the NHS and the UK HSA for the action. They have already been taken locally, but many parents feel that they are not getting feel that they are not getting enough information and schools have also found themselves struggling to get guidance.

Can I ask the Secretary of State why was there no contact with schools until the Monday? Have all school pupils who went to Peckham been identified and invited for treatment, and will he roll out the vaccination programme he's spoken about to local schools, including residential schools in the area.

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So can I thank the right hon.

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So can I thank the right hon. Member firstly, for that wonderful and moving tribute to Juliet from and moving tribute to Juliet from her headteacher, which I think just brings into sharp relief the brings into sharp relief the devastating impact that this has had and the anxiety that many other parents will be feeling in common parents will be feeling in common with her. Can I also thank the proactive way in which she has been in contact with me and with UK HSE over the weekend? She's asking the right questions.

My understanding and I. We will obviously review
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Wes Streeting Portrait Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ilford North, Labour)
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this and come back in more detail to the right hon. Member. But also the House. There was some challenge on Sunday identifying the schools concerned and contact was made on concerned and contact was made on Monday morning. I think we do have to look really hard at whether more could and should have been done to could and should have been done to have been in touch with those individual schools on the Sunday, but I think schools more generally. but I think schools more generally.

She's absolutely right to identify that there would have been other sixth formers over the age of 18, and potentially some who maybe should not have been in the nightclub, but may have been. And it's really important that we we have a grip on who those young people are to make sure they get access to good, high quality health information, advice, and to make sure they know where to go, where they have concerns. I am confident that these four hubs will reach those young people, and that the flow of information is improving.

But she is absolutely right to press and probe on whether we could and should have been more effective at communication with schools, as

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we certainly were with the university. Jim Dickson thank you, Mr. Speaker, and can I thank the Secretary of State for his Secretary of State for his statement, and I absolutely echo his words and those of other members on the tragic loss of two members on the tragic loss of two young lives to meningitis as a result of this outbreak. Many result of this outbreak. Many residents in Dartford remain understandably concerned. And can I welcome, therefore, his assurance welcome, therefore, his assurance and those of UK HSE, that the meningitis outbreak is linked to a very specific venue and event, and obviously it's been encouraging to see the swift action from health
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Wes Streeting Portrait Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Ilford North, Labour)
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underscore the nature of the transmission of this disease, which transmission of this disease, which is close personal contact, kissing, sharing vapes, which I'm concerned about in the context of young about in the context of young people sharing drinks. And obviously, if people live in a household together, some of those household together, some of those things are even more likely to occur. But the general risk is low. So I don't want people. I want people to, you know, think carefully about their own situation.

But people shouldn't be unnecessarily worried or anxious. So in terms of where we are on antibiotic access, students at schools who've had close contact, those who are at Club chemistry, they can attend the sites for antibiotics. This was the message that went out to all Kent schools this morning, so hopefully there will be an improvement in the flow and accuracy of information going to schools. My hon. Friend is absolutely right to say we need to once this incident has passed, to look back and reflect on what was done, when and what can we learn from that.

But at the same time, I'm also keen to make sure that we're listening, getting active feedback from members across the House and improving in real time as well. So we will we will keep these channels open not just through questions today, but through briefings with Members of Parliament, keeping our channels open so that we can get feedback from local elected representatives, which in her case and others has

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been extremely valuable. I've Lauren Sullivan. I'd like to send my condolences.

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To. The families affected and for all those that have lost young lives in the past of meningitis, I lives in the past of meningitis, I welcome the Secretary of State on the targeted vaccine programme, as well as the rollout to deliver well as the rollout to deliver antibiotics at pace. Vaccines are the most effective way and powerful ways to protect individuals and ways to protect individuals and community at large. But we know that infectious diseases mutate and we must be ready.

So will he commit to work the work being done in the future to look at MP vaccine, to make sure that it does offer wider protection? And similar to the MMR vaccine, which is offered to vaccine, which is offered to students and young people before they embark on life, would this be considered to be part of that package?
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