HC Deb 16 October 1995 vol 264 cc41-2W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 18 July column1221, what are the ethical guidelines relating to radiation experiments on humans. [36755]

Mr. Ian Taylor

As early as 1953, the MRC defined an explicit requirement that informed consent should be obtained by clinical investigators from participants in research. This was complemented in 1963 by a comprehensive statement, "Responsibility in Investigations on Human Subjects", which outlined the standards relating to the use of volunteers in medical research. These guidelines are kept continually under review, and in 1991 strict MRC guidance was drawn up relating specifically to the conduct of research on the mentally incapacitated.

The MRC does not carry out experiments on human volunteers without obtaining their written permission, and without providing them with detailed information about the purpose of the study and nature of their involvement. Furthermore, such volunteers can withdraw at any time.

Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations the Medical Research Council had with the parents of children whose body parts were used for radioactivity-related studies from 1965 to 1970. [36445]

Mr. Ian Taylor

Under the Human Tissue Act 1961, consultation with the parents of the children involved would have been the responsibility of the person in lawful possession of the body. This would have been a member of the hospital staff where the post mortem took place, not the Medical Research Council researchers. As far as can be ascertained, it is believed that appropriate consultation took place and that body parts were removed in compliance with the Act.

Mr. Jones

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research the Medical Research Council undertook involving the removal of bones from the corpses of children in Clwyd between 1965 and 1970. [36446]

Mr. Taylor

Nationwide studies looking into the concentration of strontium–90 in human bones were carried out between 1955 and 1970 under the joint auspices of the Medical Research Council and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. For the purpose of this research, pathologists in various parts of the UK supplied samples of fresh bones obtained at autopsy from the bodies of subjects of different age groups, including infants and children.

From 1959 onwards, results of this study incorporated regional breakdowns by domicile of the people whose bones were used. Information is available for the former county of Denbighshire which roughly corresponds to the present county of Clwyd. This shows that between 1965 and 1970 samples were taken from 18 children who had died aged three months to 17 years.

Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Medical Research Council on radioactivity experiments conducted on civilians under the direction of the Medical Research Council without the knowledge of the subjects concerned. [36760]

Mr. Taylor

The Medical Research Council does not carry out experiments on human volunteers without obtaining their written permission, and without providing them with detailed information about the purpose of the study and the nature of their involvement. Volunteers are given the opportunity to withdraw at any point. There are strict MRC guidelines relating specifically to the conduct of research on children and the mentally incapacitated.