Question
Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 January (WA 28) and 8 July (WA 73) and by Baroness Morgan of Drefelin on 14 May (WA 135), why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has been unable to advise the Department of Health on the efficacy of stem cell derivation from whole human embryos cultured beyond 14 days to form outgrowths, from which no stem cell lines have reportedly been deposited in the UK Stem Cell Bank since the issue was raised in 2006.
Answer
The department has not asked the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) for advice regarding the efficacy of stem cell derivation from outgrown embryos. It would be for the HFEA to form a view on this technique, if it were appropriate, to assess the validity of a licence application.