HC Deb 17 August 1991 vol 195 cc335-6
2. Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the in vitro fertilisation success rates in Scottish hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Mr. Michael Forsyth)

The Interim Licensing Authority publishes information on a United Kingdom basis about the outcome of in vitro fertilisation treatment programmes in its annual reports.

Mr. Ernie Ross

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

What has arisen as a result of what the Minister said?

Mr. Ernie Ross

Can we honestly start Scottish questions without a single Scottish Tory Back-Bench Member being present?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a matter for me.

Mr. Forsyth

Perhaps I may repeat the answer. The Interim Licensing Authority publishes information on a United Kingdom basis about the outcome of in vitro fertilisation treatment programmes in its annual reports. That information is grouped according to the number of treatment cycles attempted by each clinic.

Mr. Thurnham

I hope that the success rates will be published. We can all take pride in the fact that Britain leads the world in this area. Will my hon. Friend press for strict control of costs in the new licensing authority? Surely £1 million should be enough for the budget in the first year if clinics are paying half the costs.

Mr. Forsyth

I agree with my hon. Friend about the quality of the work being done in this area in the United Kingdom. I will certainly ensure that his point about the publication of the information is drawn to the attention of the authority. I share his views that it is important that the costs of the authority are kept well under control, because, as he points out, half the costs will need to be met through licensing fees, which are raised by the authority.

Dr. Godman

Will the Minister give the House an assurance that no married couples will be denied access to such treatment because of where they live in Scotland? Does he agree that there should be equality of access to such treatment?

Mr. Forsyth

I hesitate to make too much of a habit of agreeing with the hon. Gentleman at Scottish questions. As he knows, provision is made according to health boards and the priorities that they set for this service, particularly IVF services. I think that the hon. Gentleman is pressing me to consider the need for an overall Scotland approach to the provision of these services and I am happy to undertake to look at that matter later this year, once I have had the results from an in-house working party which is considering the question.