Clause 28
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]
12:30 pm
Mark Simmonds (Shadow Minister, Health; Boston and Skegness, Conservative)
Will the Minister help the Committee by saying how many times the powers of entry, search and seizure under warrant have been used between 1990 and the present time, and how many times they have resulted in prosecutions, if any? I think that the powers were granted under section 38 of the 1990 Act.
My understanding is that the clause allows for members of the authority to be in possession of embryos, gametes or human admixed embryos in the course of their employment. I just wondered what that means. Does it mean that members of the authority are allowed to seize embryos, gametes or human admixed embryos from licensed premises as part of their employment or that they can hold them separately in a different function? Will the Minister also confirm that this is only the case if the cells have been seized?
It would also be helpful if the Minister explained, in the context of the clause, the procedure for informing donors and owners of these embryos and gametes that they have been seized, and if she described the methods and places for their storage to prevent degeneration and loss. As well as seizing property, gametes and embryos from licensed premises, can the authority take control of a facility where it believes somebody has broken the clauses of the licence?