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Written question asked by Lord Shinkwin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 30 November 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 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 what assessment they have made of the extent to which the introduction of non-invasive prenatal testing is consistent with disability equality.

Answer

Non-invasive prenatal testing for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes is an additional test to be offered as part of the current NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme, and as it does not fundamentally alter the choices already available to women, we consider that there will be no impact on race, age, disability, gender reassignment sex or sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership or pregnancy and maternity for the purposes of the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. The Department also considers that the programme is compliant with the Equality Act because it is not discriminatory and, with regard to the three elements of the Public Sector Equality Duty in s.149 of that Act, it has a neutral impact.

All relevant equality duties will be further considered by Public Health England during the evaluative roll out.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL3719
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Disability Equality Pregnancy Screening
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk