Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has had discussions with international partners on DNA synthesis screening.

In September 2023, Government established the UK Biosecurity Leadership Council (BLC), bringing together leading academics and industry figures from across the engineering biology, life science and biotech sectors. The BLC provides Government with impartial and expert advice on emerging biosecurity risks and how to encourage responsible behaviour.

As stated in the National Vision for Engineering Biology, Government is prioritising looking at the case for domestic gene synthesis and customer screening, including through discussions in the BLC and with international partners.