Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL]

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 104, which refers to the requirement on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the HFEA, to produce an annual report. Section 7 of the 1990 Act requires the HFEA to produce an annual report. Section 7(1) requires a report covering a year that runs from August to July, reflecting the fact that the HFEA came into operation on 1 August 1991. The Treasury’s Financial Reporting Manual requires non-departmental public bodies such as the HFEA to produce an annual report to accompany their annual accounts. It is therefore practical that we amend the reporting period in the 1990 Act to cover the financial year April to March in line with the requirements of the Financial Reporting Manual. Amendment No. 104 is purely a minor administrative amendment to bring the statutory reporting requirements into line with Treasury guidance. There is no change to the requirement for the Secretary of State to lay the annual report, or any other reports produced under this section, before Parliament. Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 104.—(Lord Darzi of Denham.)