§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are currently taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to monitor and initiate research into(a) handicaps in babies conceived by in vitro fertilisation, (b) the number of abortions, miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilisation, (c) the long-term psychological effects on babies conceived by in vitro fertilisation, (d) the long-term psychological effects on surrogate mothers of their surrogacy arrangements; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority monitors the incidence of miscarriage and stillbirth in pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilisation, and abnormalities in babies born as a result of IVF, through its register of licensed treatments. Details are published in the authority's annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library.
Long-term research is being undertaken by Professor Susan Golombok at City university into the psycho-social development of children born as a result of assisted conception.
§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps are taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to ensure that mothers agreeing to participate in surrogate pregnancies are made aware of their right not to hand over the baby following its birth;
721W(2) what steps are taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to ensure that mothers agreeing to participate in surrogate pregnancies are offered psychological counselling both during the pregnancy and on a long-term basis following the birth;
(3) how many babies have so far been born to surrogate mothers; in how many of the cases the mother was actually given psychological counselling both during the pregnancy and on a long-term basis following the birth; and in how many of those cases the natural mother exercised her right not to hand over her baby after birth;
(4) what steps are taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to ensure that babies (a) conceived by in vitro fertilisation and (b) born through surrogacy arrangements receive specialist psychological counselling throughout their childhood; and for how many and what percentage of all children in each category such counselling has been made available to date;
(5) what steps are taken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to ensure that the siblings of (a) babies conceived by in vitro fertilisation or (b) born through surrogacy arrangements receive specialist psychological counselling throughout their childhood; and in how many and what percentage of children in each category such counselling to date has been made available.
§ Mr. SackvilleIt is a requirement of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 that people seeking licensed treatment or consenting to the use or storage of embryos, or to the donation or storage of gametes, must be given a
suitable opportunity to receive proper counselling about the implications of taking the proposed stepsbefore they consent. Comprehensive guidance on this matter is included in the code of practice for centres issued by the authority. This includes information on the additional factors to be considered where it is the intention that the child will not be brought up by the carrying mother. These provisions apply only where the surrogacy arrangements involve a centre licensed under the 1990 Act.Information about the number of births to surrogate mothers or about counselling arrangements is not available.
§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is currently assisting(a) Dr. Valerie Beral or (b) other qualified individuals with research projects into the high perinatal mortality rate associated with in vitro fertilisation babies.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe authority has received no such requests for assistance. The authority is monitoring the incidence of perinatal mortality where licensed treatment has been given.