§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have discussed with the United States Administration the desirability of "patenting" human genes identified in the course of genetic research, and if not, whether they will do so, in the knowledge that that is the intention of the US government.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Blatch)This issue has been the subject of discussions involving the Medical Research Council and the US National Institute of Health. These discussions will continue and the MRC is monitoring developments in the US closely. There has been no direct government involvement and the Government do not at present see any need to become involved in the discussions.