Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of whether reliance on tissue stabilisers could limit patients’ future access to a) precision diagnostics, b) whole genome sequencing, c) clinical trials or d) research using fresh frozen tissue.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has produced national sample handling guidance, including for whole genome sequencing (WGS) of solid tumours, to standardise the collection, processing, and transport of tumour samples, helping to maintain DNA quality and support access to precision diagnostics. As part of the guidance, approaches to the handling of fresh tissue have been reviewed, including the use of tissue stabilisers as an alternative to fresh frozen tissue.
The Department has not undertaken a specific, separate assessment of whether reliance on tissue stabilisers could limit access to precision diagnostics, WGS, clinical trials, or research. However, the guidance indicates that the use of tissue stabilisers is intended to support, rather than limit, access to genomic testing, including WGS, by enabling more consistent sample handling pathways across the National Health Service. The aim is to reduce some of the barriers of having to acquire, freeze, and transport the frozen tissue, helping to speed up processes and improve consistency.
NHS England is taking steps to address the variation in access to freezer capacity and fresh frozen tissue pathways across the NHS. NHS England is currently working with the British Neuro-Oncology Society to map where freezer storage facilities for fresh frozen tissue are required. Work is also ongoing across genomics, cancer, and pathology programmes to optimise fresh tissue pathways, including mapping infrastructure requirements and developing the supporting evidence base.
This work aims to reduce variation in local infrastructure and support more equitable access to both fresh frozen tissue pathways and genomic testing across England.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to ensure tissue stabilisers do not reduce the need for equitable access to tissue freezing across the NHS.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has produced national sample handling guidance, including for whole genome sequencing (WGS) of solid tumours, to standardise the collection, processing, and transport of tumour samples, helping to maintain DNA quality and support access to precision diagnostics. As part of the guidance, approaches to the handling of fresh tissue have been reviewed, including the use of tissue stabilisers as an alternative to fresh frozen tissue.
The Department has not undertaken a specific, separate assessment of whether reliance on tissue stabilisers could limit access to precision diagnostics, WGS, clinical trials, or research. However, the guidance indicates that the use of tissue stabilisers is intended to support, rather than limit, access to genomic testing, including WGS, by enabling more consistent sample handling pathways across the National Health Service. The aim is to reduce some of the barriers of having to acquire, freeze, and transport the frozen tissue, helping to speed up processes and improve consistency.
NHS England is taking steps to address the variation in access to freezer capacity and fresh frozen tissue pathways across the NHS. NHS England is currently working with the British Neuro-Oncology Society to map where freezer storage facilities for fresh frozen tissue are required. Work is also ongoing across genomics, cancer, and pathology programmes to optimise fresh tissue pathways, including mapping infrastructure requirements and developing the supporting evidence base.
This work aims to reduce variation in local infrastructure and support more equitable access to both fresh frozen tissue pathways and genomic testing across England.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Mexico on the protection of freedom of religion or belief for indigenous and rural communities affected by organised criminal violence and local governance disputes.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief and to the freedom of expression globally. We are concerned by reports of violence against indigenous and rural communities in Mexico. Any violence against indigenous communities must be fully investigated. We regularly engage with the Mexican authorities and civil society on the issue of the protection of civilians, as well as with the UN in Mexico on the effective investigation of crimes against human rights defenders.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Indian counterpart on freedom of religion or belief relating to the proposed implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 1978.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 4 June in response to Question 3945.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the use of informal hierarchies of animal sentience by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit in discharging its duties under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) does not operate through informal hierarchies of sentience. Instead, it statutorily requires that, wherever possible, animals with the lowest capacity to experience pain, suffering, distress and lasting harm are used, consistent with achieving the scientific purpose.
This requirement is reflected in the principle of refinement in, standard condition 4 of project licences, and the guidance for project licence applicants. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, and applicants must justify the choice of species, including why no suitable alternative with a lower capacity to experience harm can be used.
Decisions are informed by the best available scientific evidence, including relevant evidence on neurobiology and behaviour, rather than by any informal ranking system. Additionally, certain species, such as non-human primates, dogs and cats, are subject to additional statutory safeguards under ASPA.
All project licence applications must demonstrate how the principle of refinement along with replacement and reduction (the 3Rs) have been fully considered and applied. Applicants are required to justify the use of animals, explain why no suitable non-animal alternatives are available, minimise the number of animals used, and adopt refined methods to reduce suffering. These considerations are subject to scrutiny by Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies and Home Office Inspectors before any licence is granted.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps is she taking to (a) reduce the numbers of decapod crustaceans used in scientific procedures and (b) strengthen expertise of these creatures within the Animals in Science Regulation Unit.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 recognises decapod crustaceans as sentient beings. The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to their welfare, including where they are used in scientific research.
The Home Office has committed to a phased approach to developing proportionate and evidence-based arrangements for decapods used in science. This approach combines the endorsement of industry led welfare standards for decapods, supported by voluntary reporting, alongside exploring the development of a clear roadmap towards consideration of the potential future inclusion of decapods as “protected animals” under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).