Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Genomics Databases

Thursday 11 May 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK's genomics databases are not designated as critical national infrastructure.
  • The government will work in partnership across sectors to ensure the resilience of genomics databases.
  • The government takes threats to security and democracy from genomics database abuse seriously.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Science & Technology
Context

The Liberal Democrat MP is concerned about the potential threats to UK genomics databases from abuse.

Question

What recent discussions has he had with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on designating UK genomics databases as critical national infrastructure?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The UK's genomics databases are not designated as critical national infrastructure. However, through our recently published resilience framework, we will work in partnership across all sectors to ensure they are individually resilient and contribute fully to national resilience.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide details on discussions about designating genomics databases as critical national infrastructure.

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Q2 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
NHS Standards & Ethics
Context

The MP references a speech by Secretary of State Blinken outlining the threat posed by abuse of genomics databases. He is concerned about the opening of a new lab by a Chinese genomics company.

Question

He recommends reading Secretary of State Blinken's speech on Tuesday, which outlines threats to security and democracy from abusing genomics databases. When will the government address this threat?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

We take these threats seriously and are raising them with the Department of Health and Social Care, which is the lead department for genomics. However, critical national infrastructure designation focuses on keeping essential services running in the UK.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a timeline or specific plan to address the threat from abuse of genomics databases.

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