Genetics: Insurance

Mark Simmonds
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the concordat and moratorium of genetics and insurance.

Dawn Primarolo
The concordat and moratorium on genetics and insurance was announced in a written ministerial statement given by the former Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (John Reid), on 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 5WS. It is a high level agreement between the Government and the Association of British Insurers on the use of predictive genetic test results for insurance purposes.

The moratorium on insurers' use of predictive genetic test dating from 1 November 2001 was extended by five years until 1 November 2011.