Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many human embryos have been used in research to date; what percentage of those were specifically created for research purposes; and what percentage were cultured for more than 14 days as outgrowing embryos.
Answer
I have been advised by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) that information on the number of embryos created from the commencement of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 until 2006 has been published by the HFEA in A long-term analysis of the HFEA Register data (1991-2006) which is available on the HFEA website at www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/HFEA_long_ term_data_91-06_versionl_revision4.pdf. A copy has been placed in the Library. The HFEA does not hold information centrally about the percentages of embryos specifically created for research and which were cultured as outgrowing embryos. HFEA inspection reports record information about the research projects being undertaken at any particular centre. The inspection reports are available on the HFEA website.