Puberty Suppressants Trial

Jim Shannon Excerpts
Wednesday 17th December 2025

(1 day, 21 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

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Nusrat Ghani Portrait Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)
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We need a short question. I call Jim Shannon.

Jim Shannon Portrait Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
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May I thank the Secretary of State for all that he does? He deserves credit. A mother from my constituency phoned me this morning and said:

“Why is money being spent on this pathway when my child has been waiting for clinical support for 3 years and the waiting list is so long she may be moved to adult treatment? Why is Government prioritising the tiny few over the many? With our children’s mental health services at breaking point and parents at their wits end trying to get their child diagnosed”,

how do the Government look in the eyes of the parents with rare diseases whose drugs are not funded by the NHS when they are funding this trial?

Wes Streeting Portrait Wes Streeting
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I say respectfully to the hon. Gentleman, whom I like very much, and to his constituent, that it is because I have also had to look into the eyes of people in this community who have not received the right care and seen the deleterious impact it has had on their mental health and wellbeing. I have had to deal with parents who have suffered loss and bereavement. We have to make sure that we are doing the right thing by everyone. This should not be an either/or choice.