HC Deb 12 January 1998 vol 304 cc151-2W
Mr. Tyler

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) date of appointment, (b) terms of reference and (c) membership of the focus groups established by his Department to discuss genetic engineering. [22599]

Ms Jowell

There are no specific focus groups established by the Department to discuss genetic engineering. However, the Department provides the Secretariat for the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC) which was set up in 1993, and is chaired by Professor Norman Nevin (Professor of Medical Genetics) from Belfast City Hospital.

GTAC members are:

  • Professor E. Anionwu—Thames Valley University
  • Mrs. R. Barnes—Cystic Fibrosis Trust
  • Professor J. Burn—Royal Victoria Infirmary
  • Professor A. Dayan—St. Bartholomew's Hospital
  • Revd. Dr. K. Denison—Church in Wales
  • Dr. B. Gibson—Hospital for Sick Children
  • Professor I. Hart—St. Thomas" Hospital
  • Mrs. A. Hunt—Genetic Interest Group
  • Professor P. Johnston—Belfast City Hospital
  • Professor T. Marteau—Guy's Hospital
  • Professor J. Neil—University of Glasgow.
  • Professor A. Pinching—St. Bartholomew"s Hospital
  • Miss E. Platt QC—Lawyer
  • Sir B. Richards—Peptide Therapeutics Group plc
  • Professor M. Steel—University of St. Andrew"s
  • Mrs. I Train—Nurse

GTAC advises on the ethical acceptability of proposals for gene therapy research in humans.

The Human Genetics Advisory Commission (HGAC), chaired by Professor Sir Colin Campbell (Vice Chancellor, University of Nottingham), was set up in 1996 and reports to health and industry Ministers.

HGAC members are:

  • Professor C. Aitken—Emeritus Professor, University of Edinburgh
  • Dr. M. Aldred—Retinoblastoma Society
  • Professor M. Bobrow—University of Cambridge
  • Mrs. D. Littlejohn—Central Office of Industrial Tribunals, Scotland
  • Professor N. Nevin—Chair GTAC
  • Dr. O. O'Neill—Chair Nuffield Council on Bioethics
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  • Revd. Dr. J. Polkinghorne—Chair Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing
  • Dr. G. Poste—SmithKline Beecham
  • Ms M. Stuart—British Broadcasting Corporation

HGAC has a remit to keep under review scientific progress at the frontiers of human genetics and related fields.