Clause 20
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]
3:15 pm
Dawn Primarolo (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of Health; Bristol South, Labour)
I assure the hon. Gentleman that the HFEA, within its requirements when it suspends a licence, has to issue special directions. Those special directions allow for the continued storage of gametes and embryos at the clinic. The HFEA would also expect the clinic to make appropriate arrangements for the continued treatment of its patients if a licence were revoked. Furthermore, it would expect gametes and embryos to be moved to another licensed clinic.
As with suspension, the HFEA would also expect the clinic to make appropriate arrangements for the continued treatment of its patients. The HFEA already has the power to do that, so I do not think it necessary to give it further powers under the Bill.
The hon. Gentleman has raised a series of important questions, but I hope that in each of those circumstances continued treatment of patients, safe storage and/or transfer of gametes and embryos will all be dealt with under the special directions, which are part of the licensing requirements.