§ Mr. Abseasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will refer to the genetic manipulation advisory committee the issue of what control is required over research involving human fertilisation in vitro and embryo transplants; whether she will enlarge the committee to enable the ethical and social aspects to be reviewed; and whether she is satisfied that uncontrolled research in this field should continue before the safety of the technique has been further demonstrated in subhuman primates.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe techniques of human in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer do not involve genetic manipulation in any way and, therefore, the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Group is not a suitable body to discuss them. However, the Medical Research Council, for which my right hon. Friend provides funds, retains the view it took some time ago that it would not support research in these fields until there was satisfactory evidence from work with animals of the safety of the techniques.