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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL]

Before my noble friend sits down, perhaps I may ask her a question because of her knowledge in this area. She is quite right. Without the ability to amend the human tissue regulations, which was of course originally part of the purpose of this Bill when it was first presented, we are not able to lay a statutory duty in the context of things like the routine collection of cord blood. Rather more importantly, and on the point she has just made, will she clarify what are the best interest regulations inside the Human Tissue Authority’s code of practice and confirm that they extend way beyond the medical questions to psychological, social and emotional issues? If we incorporate those into these tests that will obviously be a wide area indeed on which to make these judgments.