§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has prohibited on ethical grounds the use of primates in xenotransplantation trials. [76501]
§ Mr. HuttonWe recognise that the use of primates as possible source animals for xenotransplantation is an emotive issue arousing strong feelings. The view taken
Ordinary admissions and day cases combined: number of completed first order episodes by primary diagnosis and Regional Health Authority (RHA) of treatment NHS hospitals, England 1993–94 to 1995–96 Heart attacks Strokes Regional health authority 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 Northern 8,807 7,473 6,987 8,234 7,597 6,387 Yorkshire 8,812 8,132 7,636 8,912 8,535 6,757 Trent 10,119 9,045 9,858 11,150 10,982 8,670 East Anglian 4,625 5,791 4,240 4,844 6,647 4,531 North West Thames 5,269 4,438 3,996 6,453 5,771 4,624 North East Thames 7,208 6,958 6,149 7,980 8,731 6,511 South East Thames 6,464 6,246 5,735 7,780 8,198 6,561 South West Thames 5,106 4,639 4,321 6,386 6,360 5,296 Wessex 6,098 5,604 4,530 6,447 6,783 4,623 Oxford 3,561 4,211 3,504 4,441 5,646 4,059 South Western 7,532 6,713 7,087 8,601 8,237 7,336 West Midlands 11,209 10,377 9,756 13,322 13,499 10,440 Mersey 5,637 5,356 4,780 6,195 6,162 4,579 North Western 9,609 9,429 8,529 10,458 10,705 8,078 SHAs 204 0 0 594 0 0 England 100,261 94,411 87,109 111,798 113,853 88,451 Notes:
ICD 10 replaced ICD 9 in 1995–96.
Heart attack: ICD9 code 410 and ICD10 code 121–122 used.
Stroke: ICD9 code 430–436 and ICD10 code 160–164 used.
Data for 1993–94 to 1995–96 are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.
Source: Hospital Episodes Statistics
636Wby the Government, as advised by the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority, is that there should be a strong presumption against the use of primates as sources for xenotransplantation. The use of great apes in scientific procedures, including xenotransplantation, has already been ruled out.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how his Department assesses the risk of a new viral disease emerging via xenotransplantation procedures. [76503]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Government are advised on all issues related to xenotransplantation by the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority (UKXIRA).
The UKXIRA membership provides an excellent balance of medical and scientific expertise with appropriate lay representation. The authority keeps itself fully updated on all developments in the field and has developed extensive networks, both in this country and abroad, through which to obtain additional specialist advice. For example, the UKXIRA last year hosted a workshop on the possible risks posed by porcine endogenous retroviruses, involving fifty leading experts from the UK and the United States of America. A report of the day's proceedings is due to be published shortly.