HC Deb 27 October 1997 vol 299 cc764-6W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the members of the Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority and(a) their qualifications, (b) their other paid or voluntary employment and (c) their other current appointments; [12900]

(2) on what date membership of the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority was finalised; and if he will make a statement. [12901]

Mr. Boateng

The membership of the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority was announced through a Department of Health press release on 14 March 1997. No further appointments to the authority have been made. Details of its members, including their qualifications, their main paid employment and their membership of other Government committees are as follows:

CHAIRMAN The Rt. Rev. and Rt. Hon. Lord HABGOOD of Calverton MA PhD Retired, former Archbishop of York.

MEMBERS Mr John DARK MB BS, FRCS (Edin), FRCS (Eng) Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Director (Cardio-Pulm, Transplants) Freeman Hospital, Newcastle. Professor Herb SEWELL MB ChB, BDS, MSc, PhD, FRCP (Glas), FRCPath Professor of Immunology Nottingham University. Formerly a Member of the Advisory Group on the Ethics of Xenotransplantation Professor George GRIFFIN BSc (hons), PhD, MBBS Professor of Infectious Disease, St. George's Hosp. Member of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, Member of the Public Health Laboratory Service Board. Dr Maggy JENNINGS BSc, PhD Head of Research Animals Department, RSPCA Dr Janet M DEWDNEY OBE, BVSc, MRCVS, PhD, FI Biol, FRC Path Chairman, AdProTech plc. Professor Sheila MCLEAN LL B, M Litt, PhD, FRSE, FRSA Professor Law and Ethics in Medicine, Glasgow University. Member, Scottish Higher Education Council, Secretary of State Appointee to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Appointed to undertake a Review of the current provisions in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, "Consent and the Law". Mrs Jean GAFFIN OBE, JP, BSc, MSc Executive Director of the National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Service. Dr David COOK MA, Phd Director, Whitefield Institute, Oxford. Fellow and Chaplain, Green College, Oxford.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations his Department has received(a) supporting and (b) against xenotransplantation during the consultation period on his Department's advisory group on the ethics of xenotransplantation report; and if he will make a statement. [12902]

Mr. Boateng

Following the publication of "Animal Tissue into Humans", the report of the advisory group on the ethics of xenotransplantation, a consultation exercise was held which asked for submissions on several aspects of xenotransplantation, including the science and its regulation. Some 51 responses have been received. These contained detailed analysis of the issues raised by the report and cannot be classed as being either for or against xenotransplantation. Copies of all those responses not made in confidence will be placed in the Library in due course, following consideration of the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority's advice. In addition to the responses to the consultation exercise, we have received around 15,000 postcards registering opposition to xentransplantation on both medical and ethical grounds.