§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to change the HFEA's(a) code of practice and (b) operating procedures to prevent the pre-selection of physical or mental characteristics other than to find a match for those of the prospective father's characteristics or to provide a healthy embryo; [73037]
(2) if he will list the IVF clinics at which prospective parents seeking IVF treatment, may select by donor, (a) eye colour, (b) height, (c) build, (d) hair colour, (e) profession, (f) IQ, (g) sporting ability, (h) career achievement and (i) educational or professional qualification achievement, irrespective of their consistency with the father's characteristics; [73038]
(3) which donor sperm characteristics cannot be requested by potential parents seeking IVF treatment; [73035]
338W(4) if he will ask the HFEA to suspend the licence of IVF clinics that offer choice of donor sperm characteristics that are not consistent with those of the prospective father or necessary for the creation of a healthy baby.[73034]
§ Ms. BlearsWhere donated sperm, eggs or embryos are used in assisted conception treatment, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's (HFEA) code of practice and the authority's operating procedures put the utmost importance on the welfare of the child to be conceived. A treating clinic must comply with this requirement when choosing the donor to be used. If it does not do so, the HFEA will consider the appropriate action to take, including placing conditions on, or suspending or revoking, the clinic's licence.
The code of practice is currently being revised, and consideration will be given to the need for this message to be reinforced.
The HFEA is aware of recent media reports that some clinics may not be following these procedures. It is currently investigating to ascertain if a breach of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 or the code of practice has occurred.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what controls are in place to prevent the importation of donor sperm to meet desired genetic physical or mental characteristics other than those necessary to produce a healthy child with characteristics consistent with those of that child's prospective parents. [73036]
§ Ms BlearsThe importation of donor sperm is subject to special directions issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in each case. The reasons for the importation must be clearly stated, and the use of the sperm must comply with the requirements that the HFEA places on all treatment involving donated gametes.
§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, what safeguards there are to prevent(a) clinics and (b) prospective parents intervening in IVF treatment to manipulate the physical or mental characteristics of an embryo, other than those necessary to ensure the health and well-being of the baby; and if he will make a statement. [73033]
§ Ms BlearsSchedule 2 paragraph 4 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 prohibits the alteration of the genetic structure of a cell while it forms part of an embryo. If a clinic did so, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority would take appropriate action, including placing conditions on, or suspending or revoking, the clinic's licence.