The United Kingdom National Screening Committee recently recommended that the use of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing should be evaluated as an additional screening test in the antenatal screening programme for Down\u2019s syndrome, Edwards\u2019 syndrome and Patau syndrome. In addition to this, the use of next generation sequencing is currently being evaluated in the diagnostic pathway for babies found to be screen positive for cystic fibrosis.<\/p>
<\/p>
From October 2018, the National Health Service\u2019s Genomic Medicine Service will, for the first time, be supported by a comprehensive directory of genomic tests for specified cancers and rare diseases that encompasses the entire testing repertoire from Whole Genomic Sequencing to tests for single genes, molecular markers and other functional genomic tests.<\/p>
<\/p>
This National Genomic Test Directory will be updated on an annual basis to keep pace with scientific and technological advances with a systematic review process in place to ensure continued value through the co-ordinated replacement of older tests with new and emerging approaches.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Test Directory will be updated annually, following advice from an expert scientific and clinical committee that will be established to operate in accordance with NHS England\u2019s specialised services commissioning processes.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Chief Medical Officer for England\u2019s annual report \u2018Generation Genome\u2019 provided a comprehensive overview of the role of clinical genomic testing and is being taken forward via the Minister-chaired National Genomics Board.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-13T15:36:59.763Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Genetics: Screening"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) Public Health England have made of the role of (i) genetic testing and (ii) population level genomic data to improve public health.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "150116"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917327", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917327/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The United Kingdom has a strong history of conducting cohort studies of this kind. The Department\u2019s National Institute for Health Research welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including localised population-based genetic research studies. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-12T13:53:59.777Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Genetics: Screening"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are plans in place to undertake a localised population-based genetic research study in England; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "150117"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917328", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917328/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In the Cancer Strategy for England, the independent Cancer Taskforce recommended that all women with non-mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer should be offered testing for BRCA1/BRCA2 at the point of diagnosis, and that all women under the age of 50 diagnosed with breast cancer should be offered testing for BRCA1/BRCA2 at the point of diagnosis.<\/p>
<\/p>
Testing women at the point of diagnosis can ensure access to the most relevant treatment and enable family members to understand their own risk and take preventative action where appropriate.<\/p>
<\/p>
As part of the National Health Service\u2019s new Genomic Medicine Service, NHS England will publish a Test Directory to specify the genetic and genomic testing available in the NHS in England. The Test Directory will encompass the entire genetic and genomic testing repertoire, from Whole Genomic Sequencing to large panel tests and tests for single genes.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Test Directory will be updated annually, following advice from an expert scientific and clinical committee that will be established to operate in accordance with NHS England\u2019s specialised services commissioning processes.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-13T15:36:01.56Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Genetics: Screening"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of rolling out population-wide genetic testing for mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "150118"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917329", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917329/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are committed to delivering an asylum process that is sensitive to the needs of the claimants so that sufficient information can be obtained to facilitate fair and sustainable decisions on asylum claims. All interviewing and decision making personnel receive extensive training on interviewing and considering asylum claims, and must follow published Home Office policy guidance when conducting screening and substantive asylum interviews and considering asylum claims.<\/em><\/p> Specialist training to assist decision making staff consider asylum claims based upon religious persecution is currently being developed and will be rolled out to staff as soon as possible.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-08T11:26:30.873Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asylum"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make training on how to assess asylum applications on the grounds of religious persecution compulsory for his Department's asylum caseworkers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "150119"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917330", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917330/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " With regards to resettlement, the UK works according to the humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality which means that we do not take into consideration the ethno-religious origins of people requiring assistance as we resettle solely on the basis of needs, identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).<\/p> UNHCR is the internationally recognised and mandated agency for dealing with refugees. It has a global presence and 65 years\u2019 experience in handling refugee crises. UNHCR is uniquely placed to help the UK authorities identify and refer vulnerable refugees who would benefit from resettlement in this country.<\/p> The seven vulnerability criteria used by the UNHCR are Legal and or Physical Protection Needs; Survivors of Torture and/or Violence; Medical Needs; Women and Girls at Risk; Family Reunification; Children and Adolescents at Risk and Lack of Foreseeable Alternative Durable Solutions. Individuals are not specifically identified for resettlement based on their religion or ethnicity but members of minority communities may well meet one of the other vulnerability criteria set out by UNHCR.<\/p> We are working with UNHCR and other partners to intensify their outreach to groups that might otherwise be reluctant to register for fear of stigma or discrimination and unaware of the safe space and options available to them. This includes all religious minorities.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-08T11:48:43.687Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Refugees"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that vulnerability on religious grounds is adequately assessed by his Department when determining resettlement needs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "150120"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917331", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917331/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We have been informed by NHS England that regular meetings are held with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry where the Cancer Drugs Fund is discussed.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-12T15:22:00.633Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cancer Drugs Fund"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether discussions have taken place between NHS England and the pharmaceutical industry on the ongoing review of the operation of the Cancer Drugs Fund.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "150121"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917332", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917332/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Health Education England published its first ever Cancer Workforce Plan in December 2017, which commits to the expansion of capacity and skills. This includes investing in 300 reporting radiographers by 2021 to support an increase in the capacity for earlier diagnosis.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4067", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Brine"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Winchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Brine"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-06-12T15:22:49.713Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Breast Cancer: Screening"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to invest in the mammography workforce to improve the rate and level of breast-screening provision.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"}
], "uin" : "150122"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917334", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/917334/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As of the 1 June 2018, 7,406 participants are enrolled on the trial. Information on participating clinics and enrollment status is regularly updated on the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Impact Trial website, available at the following link:<\/p> <\/p>