Statement following Prime Minister's Questions

A spokesperson from the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s office said:

“This is a tragic and deeply distressing matter. The full sympathies of both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are with the family of Leah Aldridge.

“This matter was first raised with the Deputy Mayor by Mr Green and she has since been in correspondence with him and the family and met them in July.

“As the Prime Minister said in Parliament today, the Deputy Mayor has raised her concerns with the Human Tissue Authority.

“The Mayor of Greater Manchester was contacted directly about this case in August. Since then the Mayor and Deputy Mayor have discussed this issue personally with the Chief Constable. Officials in the Home Office will now meet with Greater Manchester Police and the National Police Chiefs Council to further address this issue of historically held human tissue.

“On Tuesday, the Mayor wrote to the family to offer his full support, provide a full update on this case and gave a commitment to contact the family once a reply has been received from the Human Tissue Authority.

“This is being treated with the upmost seriousness and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s firm focus continues to be supporting the family until they get the answers they need.”