Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of schools being required to have specialist allergy nurses.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. Schools should ensure they are aware of any pupils with medical conditions and have policies and processes in place to ensure these can be well managed. Any member of school staff providing support to a pupil with medical needs should have received suitable training. School nursing services provide health and wellbeing support for children and young people from age 4 up to 19. They provide specialist advice to schools on the management of medical conditions, including allergies.
Schools must have regard to the ‘Supporting pupils with medical conditions at school’ statutory guidance, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3.
The department has committed to reviewing this guidance and intends to issue a consultation on an updated version of this statutory guidance.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether first responders are (a) trained and (b) equipped to administer EpiPens in emergency situations; and what guidance is in place on their use.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Since October 2017, the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 has allowed all schools to buy adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) without a prescription, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. The Department has published non-statutory guidance to accompany this legislative change, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schools
This guidance advises schools on the recognition and management of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, and outlines when and how an AAI should be administered for pupils. The guidance makes clear that any AAIs held by a school should be considered as a spare device and not a replacement for a pupil’s own AAI. It also states that children at risk of anaphylaxis should have their own prescribed AAIs at school for use in an emergency, and that they should carry two devices at all times.
There are many implications that would need to be given careful consideration if AAIs were to be located in public places such as shopping centres, sports venues, or transport hubs. For example, we would need to consider the impacts on the supplies of AAIs for patients who are currently prescribed them.
In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and to provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs.
Ambulance staff are trained in how to treat a range of conditions, including anaphylaxis. Treatment options may include a dose of adrenalin via a syringe or use of AAIs. The Community First Responder (CFR) programme enables volunteers trained by the ambulance service to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. CFRs have had first aid training but are not medically trained. CFRs are trained in the administration of a patient’s own AAI, which would ensure the correct medication and dose for that patient. In general, CFRs do not carry medication.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of EpiPens in (a) schools, (b) shopping centres, (c) sports venues, (d) transport hubs and (e) other public places.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Since October 2017, the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 has allowed all schools to buy adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) without a prescription, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. The Department has published non-statutory guidance to accompany this legislative change, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schools
This guidance advises schools on the recognition and management of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, and outlines when and how an AAI should be administered for pupils. The guidance makes clear that any AAIs held by a school should be considered as a spare device and not a replacement for a pupil’s own AAI. It also states that children at risk of anaphylaxis should have their own prescribed AAIs at school for use in an emergency, and that they should carry two devices at all times.
There are many implications that would need to be given careful consideration if AAIs were to be located in public places such as shopping centres, sports venues, or transport hubs. For example, we would need to consider the impacts on the supplies of AAIs for patients who are currently prescribed them.
In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and to provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs.
Ambulance staff are trained in how to treat a range of conditions, including anaphylaxis. Treatment options may include a dose of adrenalin via a syringe or use of AAIs. The Community First Responder (CFR) programme enables volunteers trained by the ambulance service to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. CFRs have had first aid training but are not medically trained. CFRs are trained in the administration of a patient’s own AAI, which would ensure the correct medication and dose for that patient. In general, CFRs do not carry medication.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness on (a) the signs of anaphylaxis and (b) the appropriate use of EpiPens.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Since October 2017, the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 has allowed all schools to buy adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) without a prescription, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. The Department has published non-statutory guidance to accompany this legislative change, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schools
This guidance advises schools on the recognition and management of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, and outlines when and how an AAI should be administered for pupils. The guidance makes clear that any AAIs held by a school should be considered as a spare device and not a replacement for a pupil’s own AAI. It also states that children at risk of anaphylaxis should have their own prescribed AAIs at school for use in an emergency, and that they should carry two devices at all times.
There are many implications that would need to be given careful consideration if AAIs were to be located in public places such as shopping centres, sports venues, or transport hubs. For example, we would need to consider the impacts on the supplies of AAIs for patients who are currently prescribed them.
In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and to provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs.
Ambulance staff are trained in how to treat a range of conditions, including anaphylaxis. Treatment options may include a dose of adrenalin via a syringe or use of AAIs. The Community First Responder (CFR) programme enables volunteers trained by the ambulance service to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. CFRs have had first aid training but are not medically trained. CFRs are trained in the administration of a patient’s own AAI, which would ensure the correct medication and dose for that patient. In general, CFRs do not carry medication.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce waiting lists for people needing urgent allergic care.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is working closely with a range of stakeholders from across the Government, the National Health Service, voluntary organisations, and patient representative groups, including the National Allergy Strategy Group, to consider how allergy care and support could be improved.
The Government is committed to returning accident and emergency waiting times to the safe operational waiting time standards set out in the NHS Constitution. In doing so, we will be honest about the challenges facing the health service and serious about tackling them.
The Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 was published on 6 June 2025 and focuses on improvements that will make urgent and emergency care better every day. The plan will:
Further information on the Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/urgent-and-emergency-care-plan-2025-26/
In July 2025, we published the 10-Year Health Plan to create a new model of care, to be fit for the future. This includes establishing the Neighbourhood Health Service, to shift care into the community and reduce demand in emergency departments, which is backed by almost £450 million of capital investment. Further information on the 10-Year Health Plan is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-future
Asked by: Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat - South Cotswolds)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking to (a) improve food allergy safety and (b) provide safe gluten-free options in the hospitality sector through (i) enforcing standards on the prevention of cross-contamination, (ii) reducing reliance on generic allergy disclaimers, (iii) supporting small businesses with access to gluten-free ingredients and staff training and (iv) encouraging the uptake of accreditation schemes to ensure that people with coeliac disease and other food allergies can dine out safely.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the independent Government department responsible for food safety and allergen labelling in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Food business operators (FBOs) need to tell customers if any food they provide contains any of the 14 listed allergens as an ingredient, including cereals containing gluten. Further information on the allergen guidance for food businesses and the food allergen labelling and information requirements is available, respectively, at the following two links:
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergen-guidance-for-food-businesses
In March 2025, the FSA published new guidance, Allergen Information for Non-Prepacked Foods Best Practice, which recommends that allergen information be provided in writing, and supported by a conversation with the consumer. We have also emphasised the need for those with allergies to mention these when ordering food. This new guidance is available at the following link:
All food businesses must have a food safety management system based on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point principles. This includes identifying hazards including allergens, determining critical control points, setting limits, monitoring, corrective actions, verification, and record-keeping. Businesses can use ‘gluten-free’ claims if the level of gluten is 20 milligrams per kilogram or less, and should be able to verify such a claim. The enforcement of hygiene and allergen information regulations is the responsibility of local authorities, who monitor compliance with the latter through the Food Standards Delivery Model.
Food law does not oblige FBOs to provide gluten-free food or ingredients. However, if an FBO is made aware of a person’s allergen requirements and has agreed to provide a meal, they have an obligation to ensure that the meal does not contain that allergen and is safe. FBOs must ensure that staff receive training commensurate to their role, and the FSA has provided free online allergen training via their website, at the following link:
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergy-training-for-food-businesses
This training has been accessed by over 915,000 users, including those in hospitality, to help food businesses to understand the importance of allergies. The FSA also provides guidance to FBOs and trade associations, and to local authorities who are responsible for enforcing allergen labelling laws.
As a regulator, the FSA does not provide accreditation or certification and is not in a position to endorse any other accreditation schemes. However, the FSA recognises its role in helping consumers identify safe dining options and encourages businesses to consider such schemes where appropriate.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of mandatory training requirements for food handlers in businesses serving the public on increasing awareness of (a) allergens, (b) gluten-free diets and (b) other food hygiene regulations for people with coeliac disease.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Under United Kingdom law, food business operators must ensure that staff training is appropriate to the type of food handled, including high-risk foods such as those containing allergens or gluten. While there is no standalone legal requirement for allergen-specific training, the Food Standards Agency provides free online allergy training, allergen guidance for food businesses, and technical guidance on food allergen labelling, which includes gluten-free considerations.
While food allergen training is the responsibility of the food business operator, local authorities assess its adequacy during inspections to ensure compliance with allergen management requirements.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive about establishing a national allergy register in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to improving care for people with allergies, and ensuring that they receive high-quality care and support and access to the latest treatments.
NHS England does not collect national data on allergy prevalence or services, nor does it issue specific guidance. In conducting health needs assessments to inform their commissioning decisions, integrated care boards will have access to a wide range of data sources, including public health data, hospital statistics, primary care data, and social care metrics.
Data regarding all anaphylaxis-related deaths in England and Wales are documented by the Office for National Statistics, and the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology also holds a register to capture and learn from fatal cases of anaphylaxis, which has been operational since 1992, namely the UK Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry (UKFAR).
NHS England’s National Patient Safety Team is working with the UKFAR to develop a mechanism for sharing relevant patient safety information relating to anaphylaxis incidents, including the reporting of anaphylaxis in hospitals. The aim will be for the UKFAR to extract and share patient safety incidents reported to the national databases, the National Reporting and Learning System and the Learn from Patient Safety Events service, relating to severe allergic reactions. Work has been progressing on this, and a search strategy has been agreed upon.
For these reasons, the Government has had no discussions with the Scottish Government or Northern Ireland Executive about establishing a national allergy register in the United Kingdom. However, the Department co-chairs the Expert Advisory Group on Allergy, which brings together external allergy stakeholders, the Department and representatives from the devolved governments, to discuss the development of an external national allergy strategy that will be presented to the four governments of the UK to respond in early 2026. The group aims to support the growth and delivery of comprehensive specialist allergy services across the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to establish a national allergy register for England and Wales.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to improving care for people with allergies, and ensuring that they receive high-quality care and support and access to the latest treatments.
NHS England does not collect national data on allergy prevalence or services, nor does it issue specific guidance. In conducting health needs assessments to inform their commissioning decisions, integrated care boards will have access to a wide range of data sources, including public health data, hospital statistics, primary care data, and social care metrics.
Data regarding all anaphylaxis-related deaths in England and Wales are documented by the Office for National Statistics, and the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology also holds a register to capture and learn from fatal cases of anaphylaxis, which has been operational since 1992, namely the UK Fatal Anaphylaxis Registry (UKFAR).
NHS England’s National Patient Safety Team is working with the UKFAR to develop a mechanism for sharing relevant patient safety information relating to anaphylaxis incidents, including the reporting of anaphylaxis in hospitals. The aim will be for the UKFAR to extract and share patient safety incidents reported to the national databases, the National Reporting and Learning System and the Learn from Patient Safety Events service, relating to severe allergic reactions. Work has been progressing on this, and a search strategy has been agreed upon.
For these reasons, the Government has had no discussions with the Scottish Government or Northern Ireland Executive about establishing a national allergy register in the United Kingdom. However, the Department co-chairs the Expert Advisory Group on Allergy, which brings together external allergy stakeholders, the Department and representatives from the devolved governments, to discuss the development of an external national allergy strategy that will be presented to the four governments of the UK to respond in early 2026. The group aims to support the growth and delivery of comprehensive specialist allergy services across the UK.
Asked by: Lord Freyberg (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to consult with allergy charities, consumer groups, and the food industry on introducing mandatory front-of-pack labelling to alert consumers when a new allergen has been added to a product, and on setting a minimum period of time for which such notices should remain visible.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy.
For prepacked food, a range of mandatory information must be provided, and this includes a complete list of ingredients. If a prepacked food contains one of the 14 major allergens as an ingredient then this must be emphasised in the ingredients list so that it clearly stands out from the other ingredients.
Food businesses should provide a straightforward means for consumers to contact them (e.g., telephone, or email), on the product label or on their website, about any food allergen labelling changes. Consumers should receive meaningful and accurate responses, explaining the reason for any allergen labelling changes.