HC Deb 05 July 1988 vol 136 cc505-6W
Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to ensure that women whose foetuses may be stored in tissue banks following abortions are specifically informed of that fact before the operations is performed.

Mr. Newton

We have no plans to do so, but we will of course consider any recommendations that the committee which has been set up to review the Peel code of practice may make in this respect.

Mr. McLoughlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 21 June,Official Report, columns 541–42, on how many occasions between February and December 1987, the medical ethical committee to which he refers met to discuss the further information about the proposals before it to use foetal tissue in transplant operations.

Mr. Newton

I understand the ethical committee did not discuss Professor Hitchcock's research except at the meetings referred to.

Mr. McLoughlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any formal vote was taken by the medical ethical committee to which he refers in his reply of 21 June,Official Report, columns 541–42, on the question whether permission should be granted to Professor Hitchcock to allow him to use foetal tissue for transplant purposes.

Mr. Newton

No. I understand that the chairman of the committee took the view that a formal vote was unnecessary because there was a clear consensus in favour of granting approval to Professor Hitchcock.

Mr. McLoughlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the proceedings of the medical ethical committee to which he refers in his answer to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, West of 21 June,Official Report, columns 541–42, which gave permission for foetal tissue to be used in transplant operations.

Mr. Newton

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Amos) on 14 June at columns179–80.