HL Deb 07 November 2002 vol 640 cc144-5WA
Lord Alton of Liverpool

asked Her Majesty's Government:

For how long the Department of Health has known about dangers inherent in in vitro fertilisation and other assisted reproductive technologies; and [HL6222]

What circumstances prompted the Secretary of State for Health to commission the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Medical Research Council to conduct an investigation into safety aspects of in vitro fertilisation and other assisted reproductive technologies. [HL6224]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath:

The Medical Research Council and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority have established a working group to review current knowledge of in vitro fertilisation and its possible health effects. The group will advise on what further research may be necessary and how this might best be carried out. It is expected to report in 2003.

The working group is a response to concerns that some assisted reproduction techniques may be associated with slightly higher rates of birth defects than natural conception.

Lord Alton of Liverpool

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What account has been taken of dangers to public health in in vitro fertilisation procedures when considering the use of human embryos for the purpose of therapeutic cloning. [HL6223]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath:

The principle of research on human embryos was debated during the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001, which were approved by large majorities in Parliament on a free vote. In accordance with those regulations, any research involving human embryos created by cell nuclear replacement (so-called therapeutic cloning) can only take place under licence by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

In giving any such applications consideration, the authority would take account of the purpose and all of the implications of the research, including any dangers to public health should such exist.

It is important to note, however, that the Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001 bans embryos created by cell nuclear replacement ("cloning") from being used for reproductive purposes.