Written question asked by Tony Lloyd (Labour) on Thursday, 18 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 February 2001. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Monday, 26 February 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the benefit of allowing insurance companies to have access to genetic information about individuals. (Holding answer 30 January 2001).

Answer: Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the benefit of allowing insurance companies to have access to genetic information about individuals. [147026] Yvette Cooper: [holding answer 30 January 2001]: While individuals cannot be required to take a genetic test by an insurance company, they may be asked to divulge the results of certain specific genetic tests already taken. We recognise that there is widespread unease about the possible unfair use of genetic information in general. Because of this we have asked the Human Genetics Commission to look at the wider social and ethical issues involved in the use of genetic data in insurance and to report their recommendations to Ministers.

Secondary information