Terms of reference
- To advise Ministers in the UK on the potential ethical and legal implications of human genetic knowledge and its applications for health, economic and social well-being, including:
- the need to fill any knowledge gaps;
- the development of national policies;
- the requirement for legislative action.
- To encourage and promote public awareness and understanding of human genetic knowledge and its applications.
- To work in partnership and exchange information with other relevant organisations in the pursuit of the above.
- To consider specific issues related to human genetics and related technologies as requested by Ministers.
- To work in accordance with best practice for public bodies with regard to openness, transparency, accessibility and timeliness.
In considering national issues, HGC will adopt a UK perspective which will include taking account of legal and other differences between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and of the status of devolved and non-devolved matters.