§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many incidents of(a) virus infection and (b) horizontal gene transfer, broken down by the (i) place, (ii) date and (iii) exact nature of each incident, have occurred as a result of xenotransplantation procedures; and if he will make a statement; [125265]
(2) what safety precautions are implemented (a) during and (b) after xenotransplantation research procedures in order to minimise (i) virus infection and (ii) horizontal gene transfer. [125264]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 9 June 2000]The safety of research into xenotransplantation is governed by various regulations. A summary of the agencies involved and regulations that might apply is contained in guidance on making proposals to conduct xenotransplantation on human subjects (UKXIRA 1998). Copies are available in the Library.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) requires employers to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of incidents occurring in the workplace that result in the ill health of employees. The HSE has advised that data sets for reports under RIDDOR for the financial years 1994–95 to 1998–99 contained no reports of infection attributed to xenotransplantation procedures.
No clinical trials involving humans have yet been approved in the United Kingdom. Our position remains that clinical trials in xenotransplantation involving humans will be allowed to take place only when we are fully satisfied that the risks associated with such procedures are acceptable, taking account of all the available evidence at the time.