§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what public consultation was undertaken by the HFEA on pre-implantation genetic diagnostics, prior to their HASHMI decision; what the results of the consultation were; and what conclusion the HFEA reported. [67135]
§ Ms BlearsThe decision in principle to allow the licensing of treatment whereby an embryo is tested for its tissue compatibility with an existing sibling by preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a matter for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).
In November 2001 the HFEA and the Human Genetics Commission (HGC) published the outcome of their joint public consultation on PGD which had begun in November 1999 as a joint consultation between the HFEA and the then Advisory Committee on Genetics Testing. This supported the use of PGD, subject to strict licensing arrangements, and concluded that tissue-typing as part of PGD would require further discussion. Following further consideration of the issue by the HFEA's ethics committee, the HFEA announced in December 2001 their decision in principle to allow PGD for serious genetic disease to be used in conjunction with tissue typing. Applications are considered on an individual basis and to date only one licence has been granted after very careful and lengthy consideration of the issues involved.