HC Deb 03 April 2000 vol 347 cc349-50W
Dr. Gibson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses were received by his Department's Genetics and Insurance Committee to their recent consultation on the use of genetic test results for insurance risk assessment; and if he will list the organisations and individuals concerned. [116571]

Yvette Cooper

The Genetics and Insurance Committee received 15 responses to the recent consultation on the criteria that GAIC will use to assess specific genetic tests and the use of their results for insurance purposes. Responses were received from:

  1. the Association of British Insurers;
  2. the Alzheimer's Association
  3. Comments from Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing members (obtained at an ACGT meeting);
  4. the Genetic Interest Group;
  5. the Huntingtons Disease Association;
  6. the Nuffield Council on Bioethics;
  7. the Royal College of General Practitioners;
  8. the Royal College of Pathologists;
  9. the Royal College of Psychiatrists (Ethics Sub Committee);
  10. the Scottish Huntingtons Association;
  11. the Scottish Executive;
  12. Health Department;
  13. Public Health Policy Unit;
  14. the UK Forum of Genetics and Insurance (which includes the response from the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries) and from three individuals who provided personal responses.

I have arranged for a list of the organisations concerned to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Dr. Gibson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the(a) organisations and (b) individuals asked by his Department's Genetics and Insurance Committee to submit responses to their recent consultation on the use of genetic test results for insurance risk assessment. [116570]

Yvette Cooper

The consultation on the criteria that the Genetics and Insurance Committee will use to assess specific genetic tests and the use of their results for insurance purposes was sent to patient support organisations, academics, insurers and actuaries and was made available on the Department website. I have arranged for a list of the organisations and individuals concerned to be placed in the House of Commons Library.