FIRST cousin marriage should be banned to protect children from serious health issues, Shipley MP Philip Davies has told Parliament.

Mr Davies said not enough is being done to tackle the issue for fear it might offend communities.

He said: "Given the severe medical conditions that are caused by first cousin marriages is it not about time the government considered the only proper solution to this, which is outlawing first cousin marriage in this country," he told the House of Commons.

Mr Davies previously criticised the Government for failing to clamp down on first cousin marriage and urged them to focus on the genetic effects consanguineous marriage has on children born to relations and its cost to the NHS rather than any concern change may cause offence.

Health Minister Jane Ellison said the issue was "quite complex", there were "localised challenges" and some specialist clinicians were looking at the issue across the area.

She added such a change of law would not be for The Department of Health.

Ms Ellison said: "I have written to the public health director in Bradford asking about what they are doing locally to address this and I suggest it would be extremely useful if Mr Davies followed up on that and I would be extremely happy to hear how that conversation goes.”

Government previously told Mr Davies a decision on whether action was needed to tackle the problem had to be taken locally.

Mr Davies said: "I will be following this up as the Minister suggests."