PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
BGI Group: National Security (29 June 2021)

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential implications for national security of (a) Amazon and (b) other companies based in the UK using technology from the Chinese-state linked company, Beijing Genomics Institute, to test their workforces; and whether the Government has had discussions with representatives of (i) Amazon and (ii) other companies on the potential risks of DNA harvesting by state-linked companies associated with such testing.

Asked by:
Janet Daby (Labour)

The Government takes the importance of public trust and security in the handling on genomic data seriously.

When an individual is swabbed for a Covid-19 test that specimen will contain human DNA. Any analysis of that DNA without consent from the individual would contravene the provisions of the Human Tissue Act 2004 and the individuals and companies, or agencies would be liable to criminal prosecution.

We are not aware of any discussions with Amazon or other companies on the potential risks of DNA harvesting by state linked companies.

Answered by:
Paul Scully (Conservative)
7 July 2021