Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Answer of 25 April 2024 to Question 22294 on Genomics: China, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the cross-departmental programme of work to minimise the risks of biological data.

Through the delivery of the UK Biological Security Strategy, the Government is committed ensuring the UK is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats, as well as being a world leader in innovation. As part of this Strategy, the Government is undertaking a programme of work to assess how we can minimise the risks from biological data to protect our burgeoning bioeconomy and build confidence in sharing personal data to improve health outcomes in the UK and across the world.

I am actively engaging with relevant Cabinet colleagues on this issue, through the relevant national security structures.