Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]

As many points have been raised, I would like to make a little progress before taking an intervention from the hon. Gentleman. The amendments tabled by the hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Burrowes) would ban tissue-typing completely. That would be a backward step, and it would prevent people from accessing treatment to which they currently have access. In practice, tissue-typing is only very occasionally carried out. As has been said, the HFEA has licensed tissue-typing only in a handful of cases, and always for life-threatening conditions. It considers applications for the process on a case-by-case basis, and we would expect it to continue to proceed on that basis. Where it has agreed to proceed—for rare blood disorders—tissue-typing already takes place, but that is not specifically set out in the 1990 Act, and this Bill rectifies that. Tissue-typing is a treatment of last resort, and while I acknowledge the concerns of many Members, in my opinion and that of the Government there is not sufficient justification to remove the last-chance treatment option for the sick children who would be affected by such a ban.