§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, (a) it is permissible under British law for researchers to implant human fetal tissue into animals; (b) whether human fetal tissue is currently exported to the United States where such implantations are taking place (Report in International Herald Tribune, 31st October 1990), and (c) whether this possibility is explained to mothers who are persuaded to give their consent to the use of aborted fetal material for medical use.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hooper)The use of human fetal tissue implants in animals is not expressly prohibited but all research procedures using human fetal material should be subject to prior approval of an ethics committee, and any involving live animals would require a licence issued by the Home Office under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. We are not aware that any human fetal tissue is currently exported to the United States. Comprehensive guidelines about the use of human fetal material in this country are set out in a code of practice contained in the 1989 Review of the Guidance on the Research Use of Fetuses and Fetal Material (Cm. 762). The code states that "the written consent of the mother must be obtained before any research or therapy involving the fetus or fetal tissue takes place. Sufficient explanation should be offered to make the act of consent valid."