§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement of the possible use of GM animal tissue and organs for xenotransplantation. [20917]
§ Jacqui SmithWe are assisted in the consideration of issues about xenotransplantation by the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority (UKXIRA). The authority was established in 1997 and, in addition to advising the Government on the acceptability of specific applications to undertake xenotransplantation procedures, it also acts as a focal point for xenotransplantation issues. Organisations undertaking research into xenotransplantation in the UK are required to comply with all relevant legislation. No clinical trials involving humans have yet been approved in the UK. Our position remains that clinical trials in xenotransplantation involving humans will only be allowed to take place when we are fully satisfied that the risks associated with such procedures are acceptable taking account of all the available evidence at the time.