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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 25: 25: Clause 11, page 8, line 27, after ““research),”” insert— ““(a)”” The noble Lord said: In the absence of my noble friend Lord Patel—I must confess that I did not expect to be invited to move this amendment—I ask the Minister whether the present structure of the Bill is sufficient to fulfil the objectives discussed when the new regulations amending the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 were passed by this House in 2001. The purpose of those regulations was twofold. The original Act was established to improve the treatment of infertility and to assist in the prevention of genetically determined disease. The new regulations introduced in 2001 were introduced to make it possible for, for instance, material developed from embryos to be used in the treatment of human disease. Amendment No. 26, tabled by my noble friend Lord Patel, states that licences under the schedule should authorise activities in the course of providing therapy. My question, therefore, is whether the present structure of the Bill is sufficient to fulfil that objective, or whether it is necessary to amend it. I beg to move.