Question
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 19 May (WA159–160), which arguments persuaded them to permit the creation and development of human-animal hybrids for up to 14 days in the absence of supporting published evidence; and under what circumstances they might similarly be considered necessary for research.
Answer
Evidence given to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, and the Pre-legislative Committee of both Houses that scrutinised the draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, indicated that the use of human admixed embryos has potential for better understanding and treating serious diseases. The Government took account of that evidence and the recommendations of the committees. Any licence application to create a human admixed embryo for research will need to prove that its use is necessary. No human admixed embryo created may be implanted into a woman or an animal, and may not be cultured for more than 14 days or after the appearance of the primitive streak.