Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 5 December 2007 (WA 195–6), Baroness Thornton on 19 January 2010 (WA 224–5) and Earl Howe on 25 January 2011 (WA 134), why the HumanFertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has not specified how many human embryos have not been experimented on on the basis of Directions on Records (D.1991/4 and D.1992/2) pertaining to the ““Embryo storage or research form”” (ref no. (91)5) or Directions 0002 issued by the HFEA (dated 1 July 2009) and chair’s letter reference CH(10)03 paragraph 1(h) that require licence holders to maintain records on total numbers of embryos created, used or disposed of in undertaking licensed research; and whether that takes account of the requirement in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 for a report to be made on every cycle of in vitro fertilisation treatment carried out in the United Kingdom.
Answer
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it has a statutory obligation to consider whether applications for human embryo and human admixed embryo research meet the statutory tests contained in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended (1990 Act). The criteria for approval of research licences, the process for consideration of applications and the process for appeal are prescribed in law. The HFEA has also advised that it has powers and responsibilities in relation to the ongoing regulation of licensed research and a single focus to protect the special status of the embryo. None of these circumstances applies to research ethics committees, which are entirely outwith the remit of the authority. Peer reviewers for licensable research applications are selected on the basis of their expertise in relevant areas. A list of peer reviewers is published in the HFEA’s annual report, available on its website. The HFEA has advised that its register of information holds information that the authority is required to hold by law, specifically Section 31 of the 1990 Act. Forms issued under Directions 0002, issued in 2009, will provide a searchable record of embryos created or received for the purpose of research or used in licensed research. The HFEA has advised that it holds no easily searchable record of forms submitted prior to this time.