Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 10 February (WA 176), 23 March (WA 93) and 5 May (WA 96), why the inspection report for Oxford Fertility Centre (dated 16 September 2008) stated that whole embryos are cultured on feeders for no longer than six days before cutting out any outgrowths that may appear, if an embryo cultured for longer than 14 days lacks the 3D organisation of an embryo and any relationship between extra embryonic and embryonic tissue essential for normal development, and would not develop a primitive streak.
Answer
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has informed me that it monitors the use of embryos in research as part of its inspection process. A licence condition requires centres to ensure that a sample of all stem cell lines, from embryos that are developed or used in the course of the research project, must be deposited in a stem cell bank in accordance with any relevant bank guidelines. This is why the culture of these cells is something that may be reflected in inspection reports. My Answers of 22 July 2008 (WA 244-45) and 5 May 2009 (WA 96) referred only to the latest inspection reports published on the HFEA’s website. The HFEA has informed me that the report of the inspection at St Mary’s Hospital, dated 26 September 2007, was not included because the derivation of stem cells did not take place on these premises. Embryos were transferred to Roslin Cells Limited where the derivation of stem cell lines took place.