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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]
5:15 pm
Dawn Primarolo (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of Health; Bristol South, Labour)
But the clauses interact together, so if we rewind to the debate on better regulation and the obligations of the HFEA in discharging its duties as a public authority, the same duties apply to the Healthcare Commission or the Human Tissue Authority. Those public bodies would act responsibly and accountably. I think that the hon. Gentleman is concerned that the HFEA would act in a predatory fashion by charging another public authority for the purposes of income generation, following which there would be a dispute.
I do not know why parliamentary draftsmen settle for these phrases, although they are excellent people who do fantastic things and get our legislation into understandable forms, whatever the hue of the Government. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the measure does not provide for some sort of turf war or disagreement on charging, and I hope that he accepts that. It is reasonable to reduce regulation, and when there is a gain to one authority because another authority has undertaken work, there will be a sharing of benefits between the authorities, as well as a clear benefit to the establishment that was inspected, because it will end up with only one inspection, rather than two.