TB will be back. Head of UN one day? He will remain a leading figure on the world stage whatever happens. A curates egg.

In its latest report, the GAIC wrote: “The ABI has said that it may come forward with applications covering specific predictive genes for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, but not until 2008 at the earliest.”

The Committee said the two genes that would form the basis of these applications are BRCA1 and BRCA2 for use with life, critical illness (CI) and income protection (IP) insurance. Female carriers of BRCA1 mutations have a lifetime risk of breast cancer exceeding 80% and of ovarian cancer approaching 60%.

GAIC approval only applies to high value policies because a moratorium exists on the use of genetic tests in all other policies. The moratorium covers IP policies up to a value of £30,000 a year, CI up to £300,000 and life insurance of £500,000. Above the ceilings of the moratorium, which will stand until November 2011, insurance companies are allowed to use the results of tests which have been approved by the Committee in setting premiums.

I believe that would be a disincentive to have genetic testing done.