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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the (a) date of appointment, (b) terms of reference and (c) membership of the focus groups established by his Department to discuss genetic engineering. [22599] Ms Jowell: There are no specific focus groups established by the Department to discuss genetic engineering. However, the Department provides the Secretariat for the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC) which was set up in 1993, and is chaired by Professor Norman Nevin (Professor of Medical Genetics) from Belfast City Hospital. GTAC members are: Professor E. Anionwu--Thames Valley University Mrs. R. Barnes--Cystic Fibrosis Trust Professor J. Burn--Royal Victoria Infirmary Professor A. Dayan--St. Bartholomew's Hospital Revd. Dr. K. Denison--Church in Wales Dr. B. Gibson--Hospital for Sick Children Professor I. Hart--St. Thomas' Hospital Mrs. A. Hunt--Genetic Interest Group Professor P. Johnston--Belfast City Hospital Professor T. Marteau--Guy's Hospital Professor J. Neil--University of Glasgow. Professor A. Pinching--St. Bartholomew's Hospital Miss E. Platt QC--Lawyer Sir B. Richards--Peptide Therapeutics Group plc Professor M. Steel--University of St. Andrew's Mrs. I Train--Nurse GTAC advises on the ethical acceptability of proposals for gene therapy research in humans. The Human Genetics Advisory Commission (HGAC), chaired by Professor Sir Colin Campbell (Vice Chancellor, University of Nottingham), was set up in 1996 and reports to health and industry Ministers. HGAC members are: Professor C. Aitken--Emeritus Professor, University of Edinburgh Dr. M. Aldred--Retinoblastoma Society Professor M. Bobrow--University of Cambridge Mrs. D. Littlejohn--Central Office of Industrial Tribunals, Scotland Professor N. Nevin--Chair GTAC Dr. O. O'Neill--Chair Nuffield Council on Bioethics Revd. Dr. J. Polkinghorne--Chair Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing Dr. G. Poste--SmithKline Beecham Ms M. Stuart--British Broadcasting Corporation HGAC has a remit to keep under review scientific progress at the frontiers of human genetics and related fields.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

22599; 304 c151-2W

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Genetic engineering Public appointments Human Genetics Advisory Commission Gene Therapy Advisory Committee