Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Thornton on 19 January (WA 224–5) and Earl Howe on 23 June (WA 182–3) regarding regulation of research involving only eggs and research involving embryos, whether the eggs used in all currently licensed research projects at each centre were used in attempts to create embryos; and, if not, how the use of human eggs in a project pertaining to laser biopsied blastocysts relates to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 16 December 2009 (WA 236) regarding the polar body of an egg.
Answer
In respect to the use of eggs for research, I refer the noble Lord to my Written Answer of 23 June 2010 (Official Report, col. WA 184). The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it has nothing further to add to the information given in that Answer.