A health screening programme for Britain’s youngsters came a step nearer today following the tragic death of Levon Morland.

Health Minister Melanie Johnson promised the Commons experts would investigate the situation. She also said the Government would examine whether a new cancer screening programme for children and teenagers was needed.

The issue was raised by Stockton South MP, Dari Taylor, and her North Durham Labour colleague, Kevan Jones,  after the death of the 22-year-old from West Rainton near Durham City. Both were friends of Levon, his twin brother Aran and their parents Jeff and Sandra Morland.

Levon started to suffer from shortness of breath when he was 12 and was later diagnosed with the extremely rare Wolfe Parkinson White Disease, which gave him an occasional heart flutter.

Doctors said he would be able to live reasonably freely despite the condition, but he later died in his sleep.

Mrs Taylor and Mr Jones called for the Government to act to improve cardiac screening for the young and treatment for those with such conditions. Mrs Taylor proposed a Private Members Bill which would enable young people with heart conditions to be identified and treated.

But she decided to with-draw it after Miss Johnson said: “I will shortly establish an expert group, chaired by the national clinical director for heart disease, to explore thoroughly what further steps are available to us.

“The Group will act as an advisory board on cardiac, arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death, and will inform future policy developments in those areas.”

A representative of CRY Cardiac Risk in the Young, partly founded by the Morlands, would be included on that body.

Levon’s dad Jeff Morland said: “I am pleased.  I think the government has realised there is a problem.   Although we are not confident at this moment in time that there will be mass screenings.

“We think screening is the ticket, especially for young people going into serious sport and demanding lifestyles.

“Screening is especially important for 14 to 15-year-olds doing things that are putting their heart under stress.  Their parents think they’re doing well keeping themselves fit, but if there is an underlying problem it is a time bomb waiting to go off.

“We also want the medical profession to be more pro-active once they find these problems making sure they are treated.

“Aran was at Levon’s last consultation in March 2001 and we feel he was discouraged from having a lift-saving operation because it was unpleasant, required a night in hospital and there was a waiting list. 

“Aran did ask if this condition could kill Levon, and he was told that if he jumped out of an aeroplane at 25,000 feet and had an episode it could kill him, but otherwise he should just get on with his life.