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Written question asked by Richard Holden (Conservative) on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 November 2025 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Tuesday, 25 November 2025. A substantive answer was provided by Zubir Ahmed (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Congenital Abnormalities

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87431 on Congenital Abnormalities, what use is made of consanguinity data collected by NHS England through the Maternity Services Data Set in (a) regional public health planning, (b) genetic counselling services and (c) maternal and neonatal clinical risk assessments; and if he will publish any guidance issued to Integrated Care Boards which either references or is a result of that data.

Answer

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities supports the delivery of national and regional priorities for prevention and health inequalities across the regional system. The NHS Genomic Medicine Service delivers genomic testing, guided by eligibility criteria set out in the National Genomic Test Directory, including in cases where genetic disorders may be linked to consanguinity. In maternity and neonatal services, clinicians carry out individual risk assessments of the women and babies in their care, and this may include discussing risks relating to parental genetic conditions, including consanguinity. These services do not use Maternity Services Dataset (MSDS) data, which is population-level. NHS England has published guidance on how to submit data about consanguinity and pregnancy to the MSDS, but NHS England is not planning to publish further guidance.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
92671
Session
2024-26
Related items
Congenital Abnormalities
Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Congenital Abnormalities
Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Congenital abnormalities Relatives Public health
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk