Embryology

House of Lords written question – answered at on 18 June 2007.

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Photo of Lord Alton of Liverpool Lord Alton of Liverpool Crossbench

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 14 May (WA 4), why the embryos of no other species would be suitable for researching implantation; and what scientific references to previous research undertaken on this aspect demonstrate the feasibility of such proposed research with human embryos.

Photo of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Minister of State, Department of Health, Minister of State (Department of Health) (NHS Reform)

Schedule 2 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 sets out the activities for which licences may be granted. Licences for the purpose of a project of research involving human embryos cannot authorise any activity unless it appears to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to be necessary or desirable for one or more of the purposes specified. Furthermore, the law makes clear that no licence shall be granted unless the authority is satisfied that any proposed use of embryos is necessary for the purposes of the particular research project.

Research into implantation per se does not exclusively require human embryos, therefore embryos from other species can be, and are, used for research. When reaching decisions about licensing research applications, the HFEA considers whether or not the use of human embryos is necessary or whether it could be achieved using other material, for example animal embryos.

In addition, as part of the peer review process undertaken by the HFEA, members of the scientific community are asked to consider licence applications and comment on the applications. Part of that consideration will include consideration of other studies that would demonstrate the feasibility of any proposed research.

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