Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 19 July (WA 164) about the minutes of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Research Licence Committee meeting on 19 May, why the HFEA noted that the creation of embryos with materials not described in the initial licence application would be necessary or desirable for achieving the principal aims of research in the licence in accordance with paragraph 3A and line 4 of paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 2 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as mentioned in paragraph 3 of item 2 of the minutes.
Answer
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that its Research Licence Committee made its decision that the research is ““necessary or desirable””, as required by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended), in light of the application made. There is nothing further I can to add to the determination of the licence committee that is published on the HFEA's website at http://guide. hfea.gov.uk/guide/InspectionReport.aspx?Code=17&s=l&&nav=2.