Bread and Flour Regulations 1998

Lord Dodds of Duncairn Excerpts

Wednesday 11th December 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The noble Lord’s observation is, obviously, right. Folic acid contributes, for example, to tissue growth during pregnancy, as well as to the normal function of the immune system and to reducing tiredness and fatigue. As for the point I made earlier, one of the strong reasons for this policy is that 50% of pregnancies are not planned. Therefore, it is about ensuring that folic acid is available in a diet before pregnancy, whether or not that pregnancy is planned. That is vital.

[Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP)]

My Lords—

[Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, we will hear from the noble Lord, Lord Dodds, next.

[Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP)]

I warmly welcome what the Minister has said. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, for his work on this, as well as those who worked with me when I had the honour to co-chair the all-party group on this in the other place. On working in partnership with the devolved Governments, can the Minister commit to continue that work of implementation and enforcement through to 2026, so that families will be spared the pain of having babies born with neural tube defects, which is a particular issue in Northern Ireland?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am grateful for the comments of the noble Lord, who himself has brought much to this campaign. I am glad that, in Northern Ireland, the legislation was laid a few days later, on 20 November. I assure him that we will continue to work with the devolved Governments on this matter; it is crucial that we do. I finish by thanking again all noble Lords, including my noble friend Lord Rooker, who has led from the front on this to ensure that we could announce it today.