§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government will introduce legislation for the protection of personal genetic information before members of the public are asked to donate blood samples to Biobank UK. [55631]
§ Ms BlearsThe United Kingdom's Biobank will conform to all relevant ethical and legal guidelines regarding consent, confidentiality and use of human tissue, biological samples and genetic information. Also, as recommended in the report on research databases published recently by the human genetics commission ("Inside Information—balancing interests in the use of personal genetic information"), governance of the UK Biobank will be overseen by an independent body that is separate from its owners and users. The Government do not currently intend to introduce further safeguards for the protection of personal genetic information before members of the public are asked to donate blood samples to the UK Biobank.