Food Labelling and Allergy-Related Deaths

Debate between David Rutley and Baroness Maclean of Redditch

Tuesday 9th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[David Rutley]

I am sitting next to a Health and Social Care Minister, so I can assure the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Andy Slaughter) that we will be working closely and carefully across Government. He makes an important point about the tragic circumstances in which Natasha’s parents found themselves, and this situation is testament to them and the way that they have conducted themselves. The Secretary of State has written to them and is keen to meet them to discuss their concerns and how to move things forward. The report will be swift, but we received the coroner’s report only today and it sets out some challenging conclusions to which we need to respond properly.

[Rachel Maclean (Redditch) (Con)]

I am sure that every one of us who is a parent will have found the account of what Natasha’s parents had to go through harrowing and awful. I am therefore delighted that the Minister is responding as he is. Does he agree that a new law to recognise their daughter would be a fitting tribute to their bravery and dedication?

[David Rutley]

Absolutely. As a parent, one can barely consider what they must have gone through during those hours on the flight and afterwards.