Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

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.

The United Kingdom has a strong history of conducting cohort studies of this kind. The Department’s 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.