First-cousin Marriage

Lord Winston Excerpts

Monday 20th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is right that consanguineous unions are decreasing. While it had the best data, the NIHR-funded study, Born in Bradford, to which the noble Baroness and I have referred, found that between 2000 and 2010, 39% of British Pakistani couples in Bradford were first cousins. However, that reduced by 27% by 2019, for the reasons suggested. Driving change across whole ranges of areas makes a difference, but it is important that we keep this in perspective and make any communications and support absolutely appropriate.

[Lord Winston (Lab)]

My Lords, surely, this Question is an example of the great value of our genetic science in Britain, and the excellence of the National Health Service in this area. In the Midlands, as the noble Baroness has mentioned, these diseases are common, but the progress we have made in their diagnosis and treatment—and, to some extent, prevention—has been quite remarkable and will continue. I have to add that many of the diseases are extremely rare in such families, and therefore what you could do about cousins in every case would be impossible, but the information being given is exemplary in most cases.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I am grateful to my noble friend for those very informed observations, and I share the assessment that he has made.