Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 12 May (WA 109–10), whether it remains the case that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is aware of only one study in which contractions resembling a heart beat have been observed in mammalian embryos cultured in vitro; and, if not, which other studies are relevant.
Answer
As stated in my Written Answer on 11 December (WA 8), the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) does consider a broad range of available evidence in the assisted reproduction field, as part of the statutory duty placed upon it by subsection 8(a) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. This requires the HFEA to keep under review information about embryos and any subsequent development of embryos and about the provision of treatment services and activities governed by this Act, and to advise the Secretary of State, if asked to do so, about those matters. The Government would seek the advice of the HFEA, as appropriate, on matters that have a bearing on its statutory duties. As I said in my Answer of 11 December, the HFEA does not interpret its duty to keep information about embryos and the development of embryos under review as a requirement to provide commentary on particular academic papers on request. On the subject of outgrowing embryos, an observer from the department was present at meetings of the HFEA's Scientific Clinical Advances Group when this topic was discussed. The HFEA has advised me that it has not consulted the Medical Research Council on this issue.