Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Darzi of Denham (Labour) on Monday, 15 June 2009.

Embryology

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Triesman on 29 October 2007 (WA 144) regarding Medical Research Council expenditure, what assessment they have made of comments attributed to Dr Miodrag Stojkovic regarding cheaper treatment for patients who give eggs or embryos to researchers in Newcastle (as reported by the Guardian on 29 October 2004); and what assessment they have made of the subsequent experiences of fertility patients.

Answer: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) advises that it has not assessed the comments attributed to Dr Miodrag Stojkovic as reported in the Guardian on 29 October 2004. Following a public consultation in 2006 the HFEA decided that egg donation, either as non-patient donation or through egg-sharing arrangements, to HFEA-licensed research should be permitted, if considered to be appropriate by a licence committee. Where it is possible to donate through egg-sharing arrangements to either research or treatment, there should be parity in the benefit-in-kind offered so that it is not advantageous to donate to either one or the other.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 3971; 711 c173WA
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Embryology
Monday, 29 October 2007
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Fees and charges Human embryo experiments Donors IVF Newcastle upon Tyne
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk