Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 July 2008 (WA 243–45) and 3 June 2009 (WA 88), why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) does not hold data on the number of stem cell lines from HFEA licensed research projects deposited in the United Kingdom Stem Cell Bank, given that the HFEA's Head of Research Regulation indicated in a letter dated 5 September 2008 that the "inspection of research centres willinclude checks to ensure that centres are depositing a sample of all stem cell lines derived in the UK Stem Cell Bank" and that the HFEA was previously aware that 35 stem cell lines had been derived under HFEA licences.
Answer
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority advises that it does not hold data on the number of stem cell lines derived from licensed research projects as it has no statutory obligation to do so.