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Dept of Health

Answer

Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the Human Genetics Commission has been charged with (a) involving stakeholders, (b) conducting a public consultation and (c) developing a national policy on the use of genetic information by insurance companies; [142217] (2) what plans his Department has for a public consultation to address the issue of genetics and insurance in preparation for the end of the current moratorium. [142206] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) has been asked to work closely with the Genetics and Insurance Committee (GAIC), and with stakeholders, to provide Government with further advice in developing a longer-term policy on the use of genetic information by insurance companies. HGC is committed to involving the public in all of its activities. It holds its main meetings in public and has held a public fact-finding meeting on genetics and insurance following its survey of public attitudes to the uses of genetic information. HGC and GAIC held a well-received joint public meeting in September 2003. A number of interested groups, and members of the public, attended this meeting, including representatives from organisations concerned with genetic disorders, as well as from insurance and re-insurance companies, and non- Governmental organisations with an interest in this area. HGC and GAIC are planning a further such meeting in 2004. There are no plans for the Department of Health to carry out a public consultation on this issue.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

415 c889W; 142217;142206

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Genetics Information Insurance companies Insurance Public participation Human Genetics Commission Genetics and Insurance Committee

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk