Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2024 to Question 14260 on Genomics: China, whether the programme of work to assess risks from biological data will include a review of (a) BGI Group, (b) MGI Tech and (c) other companies linked to the Chinese state.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Through the delivery of our Biological Security Strategy, the Government is committed ensuring the UK is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats, as well as being a world leader in innovation. As part of this Strategy, the Government is undertaking a programme of work to assess how we can minimise the risks from biological data to protect our burgeoning bioeconomy and build confidence in sharing personal data to improve health outcomes in the UK and across the world. This review covers the extent to which the UK shares data with certain companies.
Currently, organisations which hold sensitive biological data are subject to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In addition, organisations such as Genomics England, UK Biobank and NIHR BioResource actively consider national security in decision making about partnerships with companies overseas. These organisations consult with security personnel on a regular basis to ensure partnerships are aligned with our national security interests.
Mentions:
1: Lord Harlech (Con - Excepted Hereditary) of the Government’s Tell Us Once scheme.Clause 133 reforms how births and deaths are registered in England - Speech Link
2: Viscount Camrose (Con - Excepted Hereditary) this approach is subject to subsection (3), which provides for certain provisions to extend only to England - Speech Link
3: Lord Clement-Jones (LD - Life peer) We expect foreign companies that hold sensitive genomics and DNA to follow GDPR. - Speech Link
Found: which are dedicated to facilitating the exchange of data relating to assets in the street in England
Apr. 22 2024
Source Page: I. List of ministerial responsibilities. 88p. II. List of non-ministerial departments and executive agencies. 22p. III. Letter dated 19/04/2024 from Alex Burghart MP to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee regarding documents for deposit, and copying them for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.Found: Secretary of State (Levelling Up) Jacob Young MP Responsibilities include: ● Levelling Up delivery ● England
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve genomics testing for bowel cancer patients.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
A National Health Service testing programme is helping to diagnose thousands of people with a genetic condition, Lynch Syndrome, that increases the chance of developing certain cancers including bowel cancer. The national programme ensures all people diagnosed with bowel cancer are offered genomic testing, with a diagnosis for Lynch Syndrome not only helping to guide more personalised cancer treatment but enabling their families and relatives to be offered testing too. Relatives who receive a diagnosis of Lynch Syndrome can be referred to genetic services to discuss regular testing options to help catch any cancers as early as possible, as well as to consider preventive options such as taking aspirin or undergoing risk-reducing surgery.
Genomic testing in the NHS in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). The NHS GLHs deliver testing as directed by the National Genomic Test Directory (NGTD) which outlines the full range of genomic testing offered by the NHS in England including tests for 3,200 rare diseases and over 200 cancer clinical indications, including both whole genome sequencing (WGS) and non-WGS testing. The NGTD sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing as well as the genomic targets to be tested and the method that should be used, including testing for bowel cancer patients.
The NHS GMS cancer genomic testing strategy has facilitated a move to a consolidated laboratory network through the seven NHS GLHs delivering more extensive panel testing using cutting edge high throughput Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology. For patients, including those with bowel cancer, this technology enables testing for a larger number of genetic variations to give a more precise diagnosis, identify biomarkers to target treatment and opportunities to access innovative medicines, and can support enrolment into molecularly stratified clinical trials.
Testing is available for all eligible patients across the whole of England. Individuals should discuss with their healthcare professional (for example, their general practitioner or other healthcare professional if they are already being seen in a relevant service) whether genomic testing is appropriate for them. Their healthcare professional will then make a decision whether to refer the individual either directly or via an NHS clinical genomics service or other relevant clinical speciality for genomic testing following clinical review of their and their family’s medical history if known, and the relevant genomic testing eligibility criteria.
The 17 NHS Clinical Genomic Services (NHS CGSs), commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition. As part of the NHS CGS, the patient and their family will access diagnosis, and management relevant to their particular condition, but also receive support and guidance so that they are able to understand their condition, its implications, and their options in relation to reproduction, screening, prevention and clinical management.
Apr. 19 2024
Source Page: Genomics in Scotland: Building our Future Strategy: Implementation Plan Year OneFound: Genomics in Scotland: Building our Future Strategy: Implementation Plan Year One
Apr. 19 2024
Source Page: Scotland's Genomic Medicine Strategy 2024-2029Found: and on the 100,000 Genomes project with Genomics England Ltd.
Mentions:
1: Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford (Con - Life peer) My Lords, I declare my interests as chair of Genomics England and Oxford University Innovation and a - Speech Link
2: Lord Markham (Con - Life peer) I thank her, and Genomics England for all the work it is doing to lead on this. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: None [Relevant documents: e-petition 639085, Launch a Public Inquiry into excess mortality in England and - Speech Link
2: Andrew Bridgen (Ind - North West Leicestershire) Will it be NICE, will it be NHS England or will the individual doctors and nurses be held to account? - Speech Link
3: Christopher Chope (Con - Christchurch) for this debate says:“The government has acknowledged an increase in the number of excess deaths in England - Speech Link
4: Neale Hanvey (Alba - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath) been amplified significantly following the publication in The Spectator Australia of an account by genomics - Speech Link
5: Maria Caulfield (Con - Lewes) In 2022, that number went down to 37,701, and in 2023, there were just 10,206 excess deaths in England - Speech Link
Found: which are dedicated to facilitating the exchange of data relating to assets in the street in England