§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to discuss with the chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority that authority's answerability to Parliament.
§ Mr. SackvilleMinisters hold regular meetings with the authority's chairman. There are no plans at this time to discuss accountability.
§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for722W Health if she will list the current members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, with the remuneration that each receives in connection with that membership.
§ Mr. SackvilleMembers of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are:
- Ruth Deech - Chairman
- Lady Diana Brittan - Deputy Chairman
- Professor R.J. Berry
- Professor Ian Cooke
- Jane Denton
- Liz Forgan
- Joan Harbison
- Professor Stephen Hillier
- The Most Reverend Richard Holloway
- Professor Martin Johnson
- Richard Jones
- Penelope Keith
- Dr. Brian Lieberman
- Dr. Caroline Lindsey
- Angela Mays
- Dr. Anne McLaren
- Dr. Jeanette Naish
- Rabbi Julia Neuberger
- David Shilson
- Lady Julia Tugendhat
- John Williams
The chairman is paid £8,210 per year. The deputy chairman receives payment of £136 for each day of attendance and preparation in respect of the work of the authority. Other members receive £128 a day on the same basis.
§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals are currently paid on either(a) a full time-time or (b) a part-time basis by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; and if she will identify the numbers of individuals in each category who also derive income in any way from clinics licensed by that authority.
§ Mr. SackvilleTwenty-one of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority executive are paid full-time. One official and legal adviser are paid part-time. No person in either category derives income from clinics licensed by the authority.
§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the total running costs of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in each of the years since it was established; and what percentage of those costs were generated by fees for licences in each of those years.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe information is as follows:
723W
Year Total gross expenditure £000s Income from licence fees as a percentage of total gross expenditure 1990–91 109 1(no licence fees) 1991–92 811 8.7 1992–93 1,027 66.8 1993–94 1,146 66.1 1 The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority did not assume its full responsibility until 1 August 1991.
§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific action she has now taken in pursuance of the oral statement of the Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) of 14 February 1995,Official Report, column 910, undertaking further to examine possible conflicts of interests on the part of those remunerated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
§ Mr. SackvilleA member of the authority who is in any way directly or indirectly interested in a licence granted or proposed must declare such an interest. In such cases, the nature of the interest would be recorded by the authority and the member would be prohibited from participating in any deliberation or decision of the authority or of any licence committee with respect to the licence. In the case of their inspectors, the authority has issued guidance which clearly sets out a requirement for inspectors to inform the authority if they feel that it would be inappropriate for any reason to attend an inspection.