Following his recent visit to DEBRA headquarters, James Sunderland speaks in an adjournment debate to back calls for the Government to help fund drug repurposing trials for treatments for epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)
I know a bit about EB. The headquarters of DEBRA are in Bracknell, and I have visited them on a number of occasions. DEBRA’s work is incredible; I am full of admiration for what it does. Having come across people suffering from EB, which is a terrible, dreadful, debilitating disease, I can say with complete authority that the money we are asking for today is an absolute drop in the ocean in terms of the UK’s overall health budget. Actually, we need to be throwing the kitchen sink at this and doing what we can to repurpose these drugs to give the patients and sufferers—these fantastic people—a better quality of life. I urge the Minister please to do whatever he can to ensure that £10 million is just the start. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need to do everything possible for these sufferers?
Gareth Bacon
I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for his intervention and for hosting a reception for EB and for DEBRA here in June, I believe.
James Sunderland
It is on 19 June.
Gareth Bacon
You heard it here first—19 June. I will attend, and I very much hope that hon. Members will join us in the Terrace Pavilion.
James Sunderland
Since the Minister is clearly on a roll, if he is available will he commit to come to the DEBRA reception here on 19 June?
The Minister for Health and Secondary Care (Will Quince)
If I am available I would be happy to do that. I thank my hon. Friend for his support for that charity, which is based in his constituency but works nationwide. The support that constituency Members of Parliament provide to charities through this place should not be underestimated. If I am able to attend, I will.