Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have taken legal advice relating to whether the failure to vaccinate all young boys against HPV virus constitutes discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 or other equality legislation.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is currently considering whether the human papillomavirus vaccination programme for girls, which was introduced in 2008 primarily to protect against cervical cancer, should be extended to include adolescent boys. The Department will consider its final advice once it has been received.

Any on-going legal discussions related to this issue are subject to legal professional privilege. The Government will ensure that any decision taken is fully compliant with relevant equality legislation.