§ Mr. GodsiffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards will be introduced on the use of individuals' DNA by(a) the insurance industry, (b) employers, (c) doctors and (d) others, with particular reference to the ownership of newly identified genes. [122305]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe recent White Paper, "Our Inheritance, our future—realising the potential of genetics in the NHS", sets out the stringent safeguards that the Government have already introduced on the use and ownership of individuals' DNA. These safeguards include a moratorium to 2006 on the use by insurers of any predicative genetic test results. With regards to further safeguards that will be introduced, the Government have made two commitments. These are
To introduce legislation making it an offence to tests a person's DNA without their knowledge or consent, except as part of their medical treatment where consent is impossible to obtain, and use by the police and courts; andTo consider the evidence for unfair discrimination against people on the basis of their genetic characteristics and the appropriate means of addressing any concerns in this area.