Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Tuesday, 26 April 2011.

Embryology

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 28 March (WA 211), whether each of the individual experts, funding bodies and professional societies were simultaneously notified by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) about its call for evidence on the safety and efficacy of techniques to avoid mitochondrial disease through assisted conception on Monday 28 February 2011; if not,on which day each was notified; and how many confirmed receipt in any way of the relevant notification.

Answer: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it sent out its call for evidence to the individual experts, funding bodies and professional societies referred to on 28 February 2011. The authority did not seek confirmation of receipt. The HFEA has also advised that one of the experts referred to is currently an HFEA research licence holder. The HFEA has advised that it received submissions of evidence from three individuals who had not directly been sent the call for evidence and a joint submission from two individuals, one of whom had not directly been sent the call for evidence. The HFEA does not hold information on how many of these individuals were informed by other funding bodies and professional societies or responded to the announcement on the authority's website. The HFEA has been asked to report to the Secretary of State by mid-April. This apart, no timetable has been set for consideration of whether regulations should be made to allow mitochondrial transfer.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 8391; 727 c34-5WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Embryology
Monday, 28 March 2011
Written questions
House of Lords; Embryology
Monday, 9 May 2011
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Genetic engineering Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority IVF Hereditary diseases
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk