First-ever men's health debate in Commons

Tomorrow sees the first ever offical debate in the chamber of the House of Commons on men's health.

The Thursday adjournment debate on Men's Health and Work will be moved by Labour MP Dr Howard Stoate MP, the chair of the all-party group on men's health.

MHF parliamentary officer Colin Penning, who provides the secretariat to the group, said: 'Howard was motivated to lead this debate after chairing the autumn's All Party Group meeting on men and work and by the Forum's policy briefing on the topic prepared for last year's Men's Health Week. He will also look at access to services and at broader work and well-being issues.'

'This is marvellous news,' said MHF CEO Peter Baker. 'Howard Stoate has done an enormous amount to put men's health on the political agenda and taking it onto the floor of the Commons will bring it to the attention of many politicians who perhaps haven't really thought about it as a discrete issue before.'

Parliamentary anoraks should note that although this is the first debate in the chamber to include the phrase 'men's health' in the title, there has been an adjournment debate on prostate cancer as well as assorted other debates on public health issues in which MHF's work has featured. There have also been debates on men's health in parliament's Westminster Hall.

The debate takes place ahead of the the Forum's Men's Health and Work expert symposium on 18 March.

• The debate, which will take place on Thursday 5 March, probably sometime between 3pm and 6.30pm, will be broadcast live online.
• UPDATE: You can read a transcript of the debate online.