HC Deb 31 January 2001 vol 362 cc221-2W
Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department has published to control and regulate the sale of(a) human organs and (b) other body parts to third parties, (i) inside and (ii) outside the NHS. [148097]

Mr. Denham

A letter from the Department to directors of paediatric cardiothoracic units in 1996 stated that the supply of surgical tissues for research or commercial purposes should meet the criteria of consent, safety and cost recovery.

Directions by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health under section 25 of the National Health Service Act 1977 (paragraph 9.9) restrict charges made by blood transfusion centres for blood and blood derivatives to reasonable handling charges, with no charge to be made for the blood or derivatives.

The Human Organ Transplants Act (1989) prohibits commercial dealing in human organs. "Organ" is defined in the Act as "any part of a human body consisting of a structured arrangement of tissues which, if wholly removed, cannot be replicated by the body".

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990) says that "no money or other benefit may be given or received in respect of any supply of gametes or embryos unless authorised by directions."

Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospitals have sold(a) thymus glands and (b) other body tissues to third parties, (i) inside and (ii) outside the NHS in each of the last three years; and how much money is involved. [148096]

Mr. Denham

As long as consent is properly obtained and ethical standards adhered to, it is appropriate for the National Health Service to supply human tissues to pharmaceutical companies for the development of new

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 30 January 2001]The figures given in the table are for total revenue income of the trusts. It should be noted that this includes income other than that received from the Department (via health authorities and primary care groups) by means of contracts.

vaccines and medicines. As this involves a cost to the NHS, which would otherwise have to be met by funds provided for patient care, it is legitimate for these costs to be recovered from the companies concerned.

Information is not held about the supply of thymus glands and other body tissues for such purposes.