HC Deb 10 November 1999 vol 337 cc651-2W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risks to human health from xenotransplantations; and if he will make a statement. [96644]

Ms Stuart

Xenotransplantation offers a possible solution to the current shortage of organs and tissue for transplantation. The Government, advised by the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority, believes that a cautious, step by step, approach to the exploration of this technology is the right way to proceed. Evidence about the safety of xenotransplantation is kept under constant review by the UKXIRA, which offers advice to the Government on all xenotransplantation issues. Safety remains of paramount importance. Any clinical trial in xenotransplantation involving humans will be allowed to take place only when we are fully satisfied that the risk associated with the particular xenotransplantation procedure involved in the trial is acceptable.

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