Oral Answers to Questions

Jonathan Brash Excerpts

Wednesday 5th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call Jonathan Brash.

[Mr Jonathan Brash (Hartlepool) (Lab)]

rose—

[James Cartlidge]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I thought we had had six. I call James Cartlidge—[Interruption.] You have had your six questions—I was correct! I call Jonathan Brash.

[Mr Jonathan Brash (Hartlepool) (Lab)]

Q3. My constituent Georgia Hart was just 15 years old when she was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia, a cruel and degenerative condition that slowly robs a person of their mobility and independence. Since then, her courageous parents have battled day in and day out to raise awareness and money to get her the treatment she needs. There is now a drug, omaveloxolone, which has been proven to slow the progression of the disease, yet despite that it has been stalled by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, partly because the number of patients affected is judged to be above the limit for ultra-rare conditions.Georgia and those like her are being failed not because the science is not there and not because the treatment is not there but simply because the numbers do not add up. Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree that we cannot allow bureaucracy to stand in the way of life-changing treatment? Will he commit to ensuring that I, along with Ataxia UK, can meet the relevant Minister at the earliest opportunity so that Georgia and her family do not lose more precious time?

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

It seems that, like the right hon. Member for Braintree (Sir James Cleverly), the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) cannot count, let alone stand up on behalf of the public.

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr Brash) for his question. Our NHS has a strong record in delivering new medicines for rare diseases. The evaluation process is rightly led by NICE. As I understand it, the manufacturer of the new treatment for Friedreich’s ataxia has withdrawn from the process. However, the door remains open for the company to re-engage. I am happy to arrange the meeting that my hon. Friend seeks to help ensure more broadly that everyone gets the care they deserve while we are investing an additional £29 billion in the national health service.