HL Deb 28 June 1979 vol 400 cc1692-3WA
The Marquess of LOTHIAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can give the number of living foetuses used annually for research and other purposes, and to state what these purposes are.

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

None. It is illegal to use a living foetus (that is, one born alive) for research purposes. The Advisory Group on the Use of Foetuses and Fetal Material for Research under the chairmanship of Sir John Peel gave careful consideration to the use for research of the pre-viable foetus; that is, one which is incapable of sustaining life independent of its mother. Their report, published in 1972, advised that pre-viable foetuses weighing less than 300 grammes may be used for research purposes subject to certain conditions and with the approval of the hospital ethical committee. No information is collected centrally of the numbers involved or the purposes for which they are used.