HC Deb 05 December 1995 vol 268 cc131-2
10. Mr. Jamieson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to privatise the role of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. [2182]

Mr. Dorrell

None, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Jamieson

Is the Minister not concerned that access to in vitro fertilisation is so variable around the country, and barely exists at all in my part of Devon? Instead of talking about privatisation and hiving off, what action does he intend to take to ensure that that authority makes that vital service available to young couples throughout the country?

Mr. Dorrell

The hon. Gentleman accuses me of talking about privatisation, but when he asked me what plans I had for privatisation, I said none. That is hardly an accusation that can be made to stick. With regard to the development of IVF, I should have hoped that the hon. Gentleman might welcome the fact that that is a new science which has been developing fast within British hospitals and which is being made available by different health authorities in different parts of the country to the people of their areas. We have always made it clear that that is a matter for local decision making within individual health authorities, reflecting the health priorities of their districts.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

Does my right hon. Friend accept that there can be little public confidence in a body whose members and employees are involved with and generate their income from destructive experiments on living human embryos? Is it not a positive disgrace that not one person has been appointed to that authority who believes in the sanctity of human life and who reflects the majority view in Britain that such experiments are repugnant?

Mr. Dorrell

Strong views on the subject are held on both sides of the argument, the resolution of which, as the House knows, was achieved by a free vote during the passage of the legislation. The authority's membership is intended to reflect the necessary scientific expertise and the commitment to apply proper ethical standards to the use of that science. My hon. Friend may not like every member of the authority, but I hope that she will at least endorse the objectives that guide the authority's deliberations.