§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider allowing doctors to prescribe on the National Health Service a gluten-free diet for people suffering from multiple sclerosis bearing in mind that such a diet is regarded as helpful and lacking adverse side effects: and if he will make a statement
§ Mr. AlisonGluten-free products are regarded as foods except in certain conditions for which the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances has recommended that they should be regarded as drugs. Multiple sclerosis is not one of these conditions and it is, therefore, not possible for them to be prescribed under the National Health Service.
The use of gluten-free products in the management of multiple sclerosis is still in the experimental stage. If further research were to show that such use is beneficial the advisory committee would no doubt reconsider its recommendations.