§ 55. Mr. Smallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what quota, since the commencement of the Abortion Act, of hearts from aborted fetuses have been used for experimental purposes at the National Heart Hospital; how wide 297W the practice is; what permission is required; and what safeguards exist against export to European countries.
§ Sir K. JosephThere is no question of any quota but I have been informed of two cases where hearts from aborted fetuses were so used. As regards the general situation, the hon. Member will see from the recently published report of the advisory group which considered the use of fetuses and fetal material for research, many projects utilise fetal material. The report states that where a fetus dies after birth the provisions of the Human Tissue Act, 1961, apply. There is in other circumstances no statutory requirement to obtain the parents' consent for research using an aborted fetus but equally there is no statutory power to ignore their wishes. The report goes on to recommend that parents should have the opportunity to declare any special wishes. I have no evidence that fetal hearts are sent abroad.