§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on therapeutic cloning of human tissue [89181]
§ Ms JowellThe use of cloning techniques on non-embryonic human cells and tissue is a long-established medical practice for the treatment of serious disorders. This may include treatment using vaccines developed with cloning technology, or tissue grants such as skin for burn victims.
In December 1998 the joint Human Genetics Advisory Commission (HGAC) and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) report "Cloning Issues in Reproduction, Science and Medicine" was published. The Report recommended, among other things, that the Government should consider making regulations under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 to extend the purposes for which human embryos may be used in research to include particular therapeutic purposes.
The Government's response to the joint HGAC/HFEA report, 24 June 1999, Official Report, column 436, reaffirmed their policy that human reproductive cloning is ethically unacceptable and cannot take place in this country. However, we recognise that the recommendation to extend the regulations to allow research for particular therapeutic purposes should be very carefully considered. We believe that more evidence is required of the need for using human embryos in such research, its potential benefits and risks and also that account should be taken of alternative approaches that might achieve the same ends.
We announced that a group chaired by the Chief Medical Officer would be set up to examine these issues and report early next year. We expect to announce the membership of that group shortly.