Human Embryo Cloning: Report (Hansard, 27 July 2000)

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consideration they are giving to the findings of the Committee chaired by Dr Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, into the cloning of human embryos; what timetable they are working to in framing their response; whether they will seek further evidence, especially on the use of adult stem cells as an alternative to the use of stem cells from human embryos; and whether they will publish the Donaldson report; and [HL3543]

What plans they have to enable both Houses of Parliament to debate the scientific and ethical questions which arise from the findings of the Donaldson Committee into human cloning; and whether any use of human embryos for the manufacture of clones will require amendment to the 1991 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act or whether such authorisation may be permitted by licence without fresh Parliamentary authority; and [HL3544]

Whether they will seek to change the law which has allowed scientists at Sheffield University to import embryonic cells from Wisconsin; what is being done to monitor the use to which these cells are being put and to prevent further trafficking in embryonic stem cells; and [HL3545]

Whether the impact of embryonic stem cell tissue accords with the findings of the Polkinghorne Committee's recommendations, which were accepted by the previous administration; and [HL3546]

Whether they intend to ban the import of stem cell tissues derived from human embryos obtained illegally or against currently agreed ethical principles, as they have done in the case of the import of animal products obtained illegally or against currently agreed ethical principles. [HL3548]