§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with groups and individuals opposed to xenotransplantation. [18912]
§ Mr. BoatengNo formal discussions have taken place with groups or individuals opposed to xenotransplantation. A wide range of opinions were received in response to a consultation exercise held between 25 January 1996 and 29 March 1996 by the Advisory Group on the Ethics of Xenotransplantation and detailed in its report, "Animal Tissue into Humans". Views were sought during a further consultation period which began in January 1997 with the publication of that report. The United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority has offered the Government advice on the responses and issues arising from this latest consultation exercise. This is presently under consideration.