§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what policy conclusions have been drawn in relation to genetic therapy and genetic counselling from the conference "Our Genetic Future" held at BMA house on 30 June.
§ Mr. StewartThe conference was an important contribution to the debate about the issues surrounding developments in genetic research. The Government recognise the importance of counselling for both sufferers and their families and are currently considering their response to the report of the Committee on the Ethics of Gene Therapy. Cm 1788.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) doctors and (b) nurses are currently trained in the detection and treatment of genetic disorders; and what plans he has to increase the numbers.
§ Mr. Stewart(a) The information collected centrally records only the main specialty of a doctor. The numbers—whole-time equivalent—of doctors in the specialty of medical genetics at 30 September 1991, the latest date for which information is available, are given in the table.
Whole time equivalent Consultants 4.2 Associate specialists 1.0 Senior registrars 3.2 Registrars 4.4 Total 12.8 (b) Information on nurses trained in medical genetics is not available centrally.
The numbers of doctors in the training grades of registrar and senior registrar reflect health boards' plans for staffing the specialty.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to promote the early adoption of new techniques of diagnosis management, and treatment of the effect of genetic disease, including proven gene therapy;
(2) what strategy he has to use new molecular knowledge in surgery and treatment; and what training is given to those who use manipulative techniques in this field.
§ Mr. StewartThe Government consider that it is important that applications of new molecular biological techniques to the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients should be subjected to stringent evaluation before610W they are adopted for use in clinical practice. In Scotland, new techniques are kept under close review by the Scottish Molecular Genetics Consortium, established in 1984, one of whose purposes is the co-ordination of approaches towards the diagnosis of genetic disorders.
The committee on the ethics of gene therapy was set up in 1989 to provide advice to the United Kingdom Health Ministers on scientific and medical developments which have a bearing on the safety and efficiency of human gene modification. The committee's report was published in January this year and a public consultation on its recommendations ended on 18 May. The Government are currently considering their response to the report.
Each of the royal colleges and faculties takes the lead on professional training within its own speciality. Training in molecular biological techniques is available for clinicians in training programmes organised by the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and other bodies.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision he is making to provide genetic counselling for(a) individual patients, (b) family groups and (c) relatives of victims of genetic disorders.
§ Mr. StewartSpecialist genetic counselling is provided by clinical geneticists based in the four genetic advisory centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. In addition, other clinicians, including obstetricians, paediatricians and GPs play an important role in counselling those suffering from genetic disorders, their families and those whose future children may suffer from such disorders.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he has made of the practice of payment from one health authority to another in paying for tests relating to genetic disorders.
§ Mr. StewartNo such study has been undertaken.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the need of central laboratories for clinical geneticists.
§ Mr. StewartA review last year of the four laboratories which comprise the Scottish Molecular Genetics Consortium identified a need for two additional consultant clinical geneticist posts. Both should be filled in the near future. The need for any further increase is under discussion with the consortium.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the provision of genetic registers, and enabling such registers to play a role in the elimination of potential carriers of disease.
§ Mr. StewartThe first computerised genetic register in the United Kingdom, RAPID—Register for the Ascertainment and Prevention of Genetic Disease—was developed and established in the department of human genetics at Edinburgh university in 1970. All four of the major medical centres in Scotland now have such registers.