§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority uphold the sanctity of human life. [HL1789]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMembers of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are selected on the basis of their experience and personal qualities, in accordance with guidance issued by the Commission for Public Appointments following the first Report of the Committee of Standards in Public Life (Nolan Committee, Cm 2850–1, May 1995).
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 governs membership of the authority, including the proportions of lay and professional members and that both men and women must be appointed. The chairman and members of the authority are responsible collectively for discharging the functions of the authority as set out in the 1990 Act. As such, when being considered for appointment, members are asked to state whether they subscribe to the aims of the authority.
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§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many human embryos:
in accordance with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. [HL1786]
- (a) have been created;
- (b) have been experimented upon or destroyed;
- (c) have been used successfully in fertility treatments;
Baroness of Jay of PaddingtonThe most recent figures verified by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are for 1 August 1991 to 31 March 1996.
Four hundred and sixty-two thousand, two hundred and thirty-five embryos were created through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments.
Thirty-six thousand, nine hundred and thirty embryos were donated to research and 138,450 embryos were discarded during the course of IVF treatment cycles. This latter figure includes embryos considered non-viable for implantation. Figures are not collected routinely of the number of embryos allowed to perish because the statutory storage period has ended or a patient has requested it.
The number of IVF treatment cycles which resulted in one or more babies was 15,563: 40,589 embryos were used in these cycles.
§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps are taken to obtain the consent of donors for their fertilised eggs to be destroyed or used in human fertilisation and embryology experiments; and what breakthroughs in fertility treatment have arisen from such experiments. [HL1788]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonEffective consent under the terms of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 is required for the storage and use of human embryos. Embryos must be removed from storage if either of the donors withdraw their consent to storage or when the embryos reach the end of the storage period allowed under the Act.
The 1990 Act also sets out the criteria for research involving human embryos. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will only license research which meets these criteria and is important for the development of further understanding of issues relating to infertility. Such research has included biopsy work which has enhanced understanding of severe genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chromosome disorders and mitochondrial studies. A full list of current projects is included in the authority's annual report, copies of which are available in the Library.