Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Thornton on 6 April (WA 393) and by Earl Howe on 19 July (WA 164), whether the creation of embryos in vitro and the storage of licensed material under Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority research licence R0152 includes the use of donor nuclei from children with a serious mitochondrial disease.
Answer
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that how donated sperm fulfils the principal purposes of research licence R0152 would be a matter for the authority’s research licence committee. The outcome of its deliberations can be found in the minutes published on the HFEA’s website at: http://guide.hfea.gov.uk/guide/InspectionReport. aspx?Code=17&s=1&&nav=2 A copy has also been placed in the Library. The HFEA has also advised that the creation of embryos in vitro and the storage of licensed material under research licence R0152 do not include the use of donor nuclei from children with a serious mitochondrial disease.