§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department gives to doctors on the process of screening for cystic fibrosis. [130389]
§ Mr. DenhamThe United Kingdom National Screening Committee (NSC) advises the Government on all aspects of screening policy. The NSC does not currently recommend antenatal screening for cystic fibrosis as there are too many gene mutations associated with early cystic fibrosis identification and too little information on their clinical severity to enable counsellors to facilitate informed choice. The UK National Screening Committee will review this approach in the light of any new evidence. As yet, there is insufficient evidence of benefit to recommend national neonatal screening. The NSC is considering how to make progress on this issue.