STOURBRIDGE MP Margot James is due to find out tomorrow (Thursday) if she has won an award after campaigning to change the law to enable schools to stock an emergency asthma inhaler for use by pupils.

An amendment to the Medicines Act 1968 to allow schools to keep a spare asthma inhaler came into force on October 1 last year following an 18-month campaign by the Conservative MP, and schools can now buy them from pharmacies.

As a result of her campaign, Ms James was shortlisted for the Grassroot Diplomat Award which recognises outstanding contributions of diplomats and politicians who are representing civil society interests at a high level.

The MP said she had "no doubt" the new law would "better safeguard pupils" and she said of her award nomination: "I am grateful to the Grassroot Diplomat organisation for recognising the importance of the campaign, which is a real honour.”

Rowena Jeremy, from Wordsley, whose eight-year-old son Owen died in hospital after suffering an asthma attack in school, said the policy change regarding inhalers would "greatly increase the levels of confidence parents have in a school’s ability to deal with an asthma attack".

She added: “An asthma attack can become life threatening very quickly, so ensuring a school has a spare inhaler means all children can be treated promptly and will reduce the chance of the attack becoming more serious."

Ms James is due to find out if she has won the award at a ceremony at The May Fair Hotel in London tomorrow (Thursday March 5).