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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 27: 27: Schedule 2, page 54, line 28, leave out ““the testing of embryos”” and insert ““embryo biopsy, embryo storage or other embryological techniques”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, I shall speak also to Amendments Nos. 51, 62 and 113. Schedule 2 to the Bill amends Schedule 2 to the 1990 Act, which lists what a licence may authorise in the course of providing treatment services. The Bill introduces an additional purpose for which embryos can be used under a treatment licence, which is in the training of embryologists. The Bill specifies that this use in training is limited to techniques associated with the testing of embryos, such as embryo biopsy. In practice, it is unlikely that a large number of embryos will be used for training, because only those embryos which are not suitable for treatment or storage will be used for that purpose. However, it is important that where people are willing to donate to the training of embryologists embryos which they do not require for their own treatment, they should be able to do so. During debate on the Bill, comments have been made about other embryological techniques in which embryologists might wish to use human embryos to practise; vitrification, for example, a storage technique that requires a precise process. Additionally, new techniques may be developed in future, which it would be beneficial for embryologists to practise on human embryos. In order to ensure that embryologists may be trained in techniques other than those associated with embryo testing, and for the sake of future-proofing the legislation in the event of techniques developing that we are not yet aware of, we agreed in Committee to take this away and consider it further. We have consequently tabled Amendment No. 27, which broadens the number of activities for which embryos may be used in training people such as embryologists. In addition, Amendments Nos. 51, 62 and 113 make consequential changes to other provisions of the Bill which refer to embryo testing under Schedule 2. It is intended that these amendments will allow the proper training of embryologists and other members of the clinical profession to benefit future patients who require assisted reproduction in techniques that require the use of human embryos. I beg to move.