HC Deb 21 July 1997 vol 298 cc409-10W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the submissions made to him under the quinquennial review from the Microbiological Research Authority Board and the management of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research; and if he will make a statement. [9096]

Ms Jowell

The management of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research will send a copy of the final submission to the hon. Member when it is ready. This may take another week or so.

My announcement of the review of the centre mentioned that the views of the key organisations and individuals would be sought. Letters of consultation have now been sent out. A scientific team including expert external members will visit the centre at the end of this month to assess the research work commissioned by the

Table 1: Maternities in England by multiplicity 1990–96
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Twins 7,533 7,739 7,888 7,896 8,014 8,320 8,166
Triplets 190 201 193 225 249 266 246
Quadruplets 9 10 8 11 8 6 8
Quintuplets 1 1
Sextuplets 1
Septuplets 1

Source:

Office for National Statistics.

Table 2: Pregnancies conceived from 1990 to 1994 through IVF or Donor Insemination
Singleton Twin Triplet greater Quad or more
IVF clinical pregnancies (includes frozen embryo transfer and ISCI)
19901 1,404 411 69 1
19912 1,491 503 75 1
1992 2,109 709 118 0
1993 2,807 847 148 1
1994 3,064 1,009 197 3
1995 To be published in 1997 annual report

Notes:

1 Data collected by OPCS for the Interim Licensing Authority.

2 Data for 1 January 1991 to 31 July 1991 collected by OPCS 1 August 1991 to 31 December 1991 collected by the HFEA.

Figures provided for UK as a whole.

Donor insemination clinical pregnancies (includes GIFT with donor sperm).

Source:

HFEA.

Department at the centre. The main research funding bodies have also been invited to comment. A number of management consultancy organisations have submitted tenders for the work of assessing options for the future of the centre. Those tenders are currently being evaluated and consultants will be commissioned to begin work by the end of this month.

I will make a further statement when there are substantial findings to report, and will place copies of the summary of the review report in the Library in due course.