---

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]

The Motor Neurone Disease Association, of which I am president, would agree with the hon. Gentleman on the shortage of stem cells. It has said that"““there is no viable way of studying diseased human motor neurones in the laboratory, which is greatly inhibiting our understanding of””" motor neurone disease and its causes. The association continues:"““Stem cells derived from human-admixed embryos…offer us a potential source of motor neurones for research.””" I hope that the hon. Gentleman would agree with the association that using animal eggs as empty vessels"““for the creation of human embryos overcomes the limiting factor of the availability of donated human eggs.””" Although there are ethical issues in using animal eggs, surely it would be unethical not to use a methodology that could save 16,000 lives a year in the UK alone.