Science, Innovation and Technology

George Freeman Excerpts

Thursday 9th March 2023 Ministerial Corrections

The following are extracts from the debate on Genomics and National Security in Westminster Hall on 8 March 2023.

[George Freeman]

Let me start, as the right hon. Gentleman did, by reminding listeners and viewers of what a success story British genomics has been, going right back to Watson and Crick’s famous pint in the Eagle in Cambridge—and, in this International Women’s Week and week of women’s science, let us not forget the third discoverer of DNA, the great Mary Black at King’s College London.

[Official Report, 8 March 2023, Vol. 729, c. 117WH.]

Letter of correction from the Minister of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the hon. Member for Mid Norfolk (George Freeman):

An error has been identified in my response to the debate.

The correct response should have been:

[George Freeman]

Let me start, as the right hon. Gentleman did, by reminding listeners and viewers of what a success story British genomics has been, going right back to Watson and Crick’s famous pint in the Eagle in Cambridge—and, in this International Women’s Week and week of women’s science, let us not forget the third discoverer of DNA, the great Rosalind Franklin at King’s College London.

[George Freeman]

I had been prepared to pay tribute to the work of BGI when my officials pointed out that at that point Genomics England was suffering several hack attacks from BGI each week.

[Official Report, 8 March 2023, Vol. 729, c. 120WH.]

Letter of correction from the Minister of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the hon. Member for Mid Norfolk (George Freeman):

An error has been identified in my response to the debate.

The correct response should have been:

[George Freeman]

There is no evidence of attempted hacking of Genomics England in 2014 from BGI.