Minister wades into row over first-cousin couples

A ROW over first-cousin marriages among British Pakistanis has erupted after a Health Minister warned of the risks to children born to such couples.

Jane Ellison spoke out amid calls for the practice to be outlawed.

But Muslim leaders last night insisted a ban was not the answer.

Ms Ellison last week asked for more information on the risks – but stopped short of calling for a ban, saying: ‘Such a change in the law would not be for the Department of Health.’ She said she was aware of an ‘increased risk’ of genetic issues in babies born to first cousins.

And Ms Ellison revealed she had written to health chiefs in Bradford, where the practice is said to be common in the Pakistani community, to ask what was being done to address to issue. In the letter, seen by The Mail on Sunday, the Minister cited a 2013 Bradford University report she said had ‘found the number of babies born with birth defects in Bradford was around three per cent compared to a national average of 1.7 per cent’.

She said the difference had been attributed to ‘the high rates of cousin marriage among the Britishborn Pakistani community’.

Tory MP Philip Davies, who has urged Ms Ellison to make firstcousin marriage illegal, welcomed the move. The Shipley MP, whose constituency comes under Bradford council, said: ‘For too long, we’ve tried to brush it under the carpet for no doubt some politically correct reason of not wanting to upset certain communities.’

The Muslim Public Affairs Committee last night said a ‘holistic medical approach’ was needed, rather than a ban. And Inayat Bunglawala, of Muslims4UK, said it should be tackled ‘through education and assisting young people so they are aware of the associated risks’.

The Department of Health played down Ms Ellison’s intervention, saying she had been following up questions put by Mr Davies although ‘she will consider the replies that come back [from Bradford council]’.

Bradford council said it offered ‘genetic counselling services’.