Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how does the government assess the risks to UK citizens’ personal data and national security when collaborating with foreign genomics companies, especially in countries with restrictive or divergent data-security regimes.

The UK has one of the most robust data protection regimes in the world, with all organisations required to comply with our legislation to safeguard UK personal data when transferring it overseas. Our data regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office, has powers to take enforcement action and issue hefty fines. Individuals who consider that their data has been misused can also take legal action.

The UK Government is committed to harnessing the power of genomics as part of the 10 Year Health Plan, while mitigating potential risks.