Oral Answers to Questions — Education – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 11 October 2010.
Jo Swinson
Liberal Democrat, East Dunbartonshire
2:30,
11 October 2010
What recent representations he has received on the bullying in schools of children with allergies.
Tim Loughton
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
The Secretary of State and the ministerial team have not received any recent representation on the bullying of children with allergies.
Jo Swinson
Liberal Democrat, East Dunbartonshire
I thank the Minister for that answer. I chaired a meeting of the all-party group on allergies at which a number of children spoke about their experiences of potentially life-threatening bullying in schools. For example, they had foods to which they are severely allergic forced upon them. Some schools' response to that was commendable, but in others it was not taken seriously. Would the Minister be happy to meet me and a group of these children to discuss their experiences of that problem and potential solutions?
Tim Loughton
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that point. I pay tribute to the good work that she has done with the all-party group. She secured a debate on the subject and has raised the matter on numerous other occasions. I would be delighted to meet a group of representatives. I met a large body of young people who have long-term conditions who came to lobby us about their circumstances at school. The problem affects 18 million people throughout the country and it shows no sign of abating among younger people, so I am more than happy to take forward her offer.
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