Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of Genomic Surveillance on UK national security.

The UK Government believes that sharing biodata with all bona fide researchers focused on human health is essential to fostering innovation and enabling the rapid development of safe and effective medical countermeasures.

However, we recognise the dual-use potential of new and emerging technologies. This is why the Cabinet Office has conducted a thorough assessment of associated risks through the ongoing refresh of the biological security strategy. In implementing the strategy, we will engage with key organisations such as Genomics England to ensure the UK maintains effective policies which protect National Security while fostering innovation as science and technology evolve.