Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) national guidance and (b) regulations on setting a minimum age for body piercings.

There are no plans to set a national minimum age for body piercings. The Department has produced model byelaws for cosmetic piercing under the Local Government Act 2003 and Local Government (miscellaneous provisions) Act 1982. The purpose of the model byelaws is to recognise and set nationally accepted standards that reduce the spread of infectious diseases and protect public health. Further, the Tattooing and body piercing guidance toolkit, a copy of which is attached, provides local authorities and businesses with information on good standards of practice. These national models and standards help local authorities create clear and consistent byelaws, which is beneficial for both local businesses and the public.