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Written question asked by Lord Shinkwin (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 November 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 December 2016. It was answered by Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen (Conservative) on Tuesday, 13 December 2016 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Pregnancy: Screening

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the decision to approve non-invasive prenatal testing was revealed in an article in the Guardian on 29 October, including a comment from the Health Minister, before that decision was formally published on the government website on 2 November.

Answer

The decision to accept the UK National Screening Committee’s (UK NSC) recommendation of the non-invasive prenatal testing was formally communicated as a matter of public record via the Guardian and Press Association, and subsequently reported by several media organisations, this is usual practice.

Following subsequent conversations with the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, an agreement was made to amend statements made to reflect their preferred wording. The Department did not contact the Guardian to amend this article.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL3677
Session
2016-17
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Disclosure of information Pregnancy Screening
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk