Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the practice of bleach enema as a treatment to cure autism.

There are no circumstances in which sodium chlorite or bleach, sometimes described as Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), enemas should be used as a treatment to cure autism. We have been clear that MMS, or similar or related compounds, have no proven or conceivable health benefit and can cause serious damage to health, particularly in the case of children.

Where there is any threat to the safety and wellbeing of a child, this may lead to offences of child cruelty being considered, requiring a wider safeguarding response involving the police, children's services and relevant partners. Such a threat could include any harm caused by the administration of a potentially noxious substance. Each case would be judged on its merits.

The Department has received a limited amount of correspondence in relation to the use of bleach enemas as a treatment to cure autism.