INTERNATIONAL RARE DISEASE DAY

Early day motion 978, tabled 2 March 2010 by Evan Harris (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 71 members.

That this House welcomes the third International Rare Disease Day on 28 February 2010; notes that there are over 6,000 rare diseases, affecting approximately 3.5 million people in the UK; supports the focus of this year's Rare Disease Day on the importance of research into rare diseases for the millions of patients without a cure; believes that rare diseases should be seen as a public health priority; and joins Rare Disease UK in calling on the Government to act on its commitment to a strategy for rare diseases as demonstrated by the adoption of the European Council Recommendation on action for rare diseases in June 2009.

Signatures by party: Labour 40, Liberal Democrat 20, DUP 5, Conservative 4, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.