Lords motion to take note of the adequacy of the law on the regulation of fertility treatment. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the adequacy of the law on the regulation of fertility treatment. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I declare an interest as a former chairwoman of the HFEA. When I was approached for the job, I explained that, at my school, we were not even taught what were then called the “facts of life”. It turned out that this did not matter, as the task...

My Lords, I declare an interest as a former chairwoman of the HFEA. When I was approached for the job, I explained that, at my school, we were not even taught what were then called the “facts of life”. It turned out that this did not matter, as the task...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for bringing this matter to the House. At present, the HFEA regulations are under a law that is over 35 years old, as identified by the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, and the legislation is unfit for the purpose in many areas....

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for bringing this matter to the House. At present, the HFEA regulations are under a law that is over 35 years old, as identified by the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, and the legislation is unfit for the purpose in many areas....

My Lords, I would like to come down to earth a little bit. First of all, I suggest that infertility is not a disease; it is actually a symptom of something wrong, and that is the basic problem here. What we are doing here with in vitro fertilisation is using...

My Lords, I would like to come down to earth a little bit. First of all, I suggest that infertility is not a disease; it is actually a symptom of something wrong, and that is the basic problem here. What we are doing here with in vitro fertilisation is using...

My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Lord, Lord Winston. We live in an increasingly digital world. We entrust apps with our fitness data and menstrual cycle, and healthcare providers frequently offer virtual consultations. It is no surprise, therefore, that many people entrust fertility treatment to the...

My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Lord, Lord Winston. We live in an increasingly digital world. We entrust apps with our fitness data and menstrual cycle, and healthcare providers frequently offer virtual consultations. It is no surprise, therefore, that many people entrust fertility treatment to the...

My Lords, I recognise the depth of expertise in this Chamber and that my background is not a scientific one. However, it is incumbent on us all to engage in these crucial issues, which hold wide significance and implication. I approach this debate in the knowledge of what it is...

My Lords, I recognise the depth of expertise in this Chamber and that my background is not a scientific one. However, it is incumbent on us all to engage in these crucial issues, which hold wide significance and implication. I approach this debate in the knowledge of what it is...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the right reverend Prelate. That was very moving, and I am very pleased that her three children are in this world thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Winston. That is amazing. Like the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, I confess my inner...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the right reverend Prelate. That was very moving, and I am very pleased that her three children are in this world thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Winston. That is amazing. Like the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, I confess my inner...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Boycott. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for securing this very important debate. I declare an interest as a board

member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and as someone who previously led IVF and fertility...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Boycott. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for securing this very important debate. I declare an interest as a board

member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and as someone who previously led IVF and fertility...

My Lords, I pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for securing this important debate. Before I start, I will just clarify one issue: about 98% of abortion treatment is carried out in the not-for-profit sector, funded around 98% by the NHS. NHS hospitals do not make a profit...

My Lords, I pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for securing this important debate. Before I start, I will just clarify one issue: about 98% of abortion treatment is carried out in the not-for-profit sector, funded around 98% by the NHS. NHS hospitals do not make a profit...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for bringing these important questions to the House. Women’s health, fertility, and experience of motherhood are matters that are rarely given the attention they deserve, and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity to learn from the expertise of...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for bringing these important questions to the House. Women’s health, fertility, and experience of motherhood are matters that are rarely given the attention they deserve, and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity to learn from the expertise of...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for bringing forward this important short debate and for her work in this area. I am also grateful for the richness of the debate from noble Lords across the House, and with such expertise, and for the personal contribution from right...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for bringing forward this important short debate and for her work in this area. I am also grateful for the richness of the debate from noble Lords across the House, and with such expertise, and for the personal contribution from right...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for her focus on this subject, drawing on her extensive experience in the sector, including chairing the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for eight years. I also highlight the deep knowledge of the noble Baroness, Lady Nargund, who combines her role...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for her focus on this subject, drawing on her extensive experience in the sector, including chairing the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for eight years. I also highlight the deep knowledge of the noble Baroness, Lady Nargund, who combines her role...

My Lords, I am very pleased to respond to this debate, particularly regarding the adequacy of law on the regulation of fertility treatment. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for raising this topical and important matter and for her thoughtful and wide-reaching comments which framed the debate that followed.

As...

My Lords, I am very pleased to respond to this debate, particularly regarding the adequacy of law on the regulation of fertility treatment. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for raising this topical and important matter and for her thoughtful and wide-reaching comments which framed the debate that followed.

As...

Before the Minister sits down, I wonder whether she would be kind enough to answer one question for me. The figures that I presented on embryo freezing show that there were 909 births, some of which miscarried. However, it is clear that at least 42,000 treatments with embryos were given...

Before the Minister sits down, I wonder whether she would be kind enough to answer one question for me. The figures that I presented on embryo freezing show that there were 909 births, some of which miscarried. However, it is clear that at least 42,000 treatments with embryos were given...

I am delighted to say that I will pass on my noble friend’s comments to the noble Baroness, Lady Merron. As I said, she will follow up on further comments that he has made today. I was struck by the statistics that I looked at and that my noble friend...

I am delighted to say that I will pass on my noble friend’s comments to the noble Baroness, Lady Merron. As I said, she will follow up on further comments that he has made today. I was struck by the statistics that I looked at and that my noble friend...

My Lords, this debate has consisted of highs and lows. One high, of course, is that it is wonderful that the House of Lords has so many world experts on infertility ready to speak today and contribute their knowledge. That is what we are all about. The lows I am...

My Lords, this debate has consisted of highs and lows. One high, of course, is that it is wonderful that the House of Lords has so many world experts on infertility ready to speak today and contribute their knowledge. That is what we are all about. The lows I am...

My Lords, Nestlé and Danone launched product recalls of certain infant formula products because of the possible presence of cereulide toxin. This is a live incidence and it is too early to identify any systemic issues.

The Food Standards Agency is working across agencies and with the Department of Health and Social Care to manage the incident response. The FSA has published information on the product recalls on its website, including advice for consumers.

My Lords, Nestlé and Danone launched product recalls of certain infant formula products because of the possible presence of cereulide toxin. This is a live incidence and it is too early to identify any systemic issues.

The Food Standards Agency is working across agencies and with the Department of Health and Social Care to manage the incident response. The FSA has published information on the product recalls on its website, including advice for consumers.

I thank the Minister for her Answer, but I would posit that there is very clearly a well-identified systemic problem that non-mandatory ingredients such as arachidonic acid, which is the source of the current contamination in Nestlé and Danone products, place a burden on infant metabolism and create multiple potential points of microbial and other contamination in the manufacturing process by the four companies that supply the vast bulk of infant formula in this country through complex, for-profit global supply chains. Are the Government going to look into further action on this?

I thank the Minister for her Answer, but I would posit that there is very clearly a well-identified systemic problem that non-mandatory ingredients such as arachidonic acid, which is the source of the current contamination in Nestlé and Danone products, place a burden on infant metabolism and create multiple potential points of microbial and other contamination in the manufacturing process by the four companies that supply the vast bulk of infant formula in this country through complex, for-profit global supply chains. Are the Government going to look into further action on this?

Obviously, we are very concerned about toxins and ensuring that there is no damage done to people: that is the reason for the product recall. The effect of this is that it creates bacteria, so it is like food poisoning in that respect.

With regard to what the noble Baroness has said about ARA oil, the concern of the FSA is very much about safety. What has happened here, as I understand, is that ARA oil is a very common ingredient, but this one appears to have had some contamination, which has affected certain batches, and it is those that are being recalled.

Obviously, we are very concerned about toxins and ensuring that there is no damage done to people: that is the reason for the product recall. The effect of this is that it creates bacteria, so it is like food poisoning in that respect.

With regard to what the noble Baroness has said about ARA oil, the concern of the FSA is very much about safety. What has happened here, as I understand, is that ARA oil is a very common ingredient, but this one appears to have had some contamination, which has affected certain batches, and it is those that are being recalled.

My Lords, what the Minister said is correct, but only partially. Arachidonic acid is the key component that may contain bacillus cereus, which is the product that produces the toxin cereulide, which causes problems for babies including vomiting and

diarrhoea. It is the same as any bacteria or virus that causes the gut rot that we often experience. It is a supply chain problem and the current regulatory mechanism relies on self-regulation. That is what needs to be addressed. We had a similar problem in 2008 with another chemical called melamine, which was in milk products and caused kidney damage to babies. Does the Minister agree that it is the regulation of the supply chain and production that needs to be addressed?

My Lords, what the Minister said is correct, but only partially. Arachidonic acid is the key component that may contain bacillus cereus, which is the product that produces the toxin cereulide, which causes problems for babies including vomiting and

diarrhoea. It is the same as any bacteria or virus that causes the gut rot that we often experience. It is a supply chain problem and the current regulatory mechanism relies on self-regulation. That is what needs to be addressed. We had a similar problem in 2008 with another chemical called melamine, which was in milk products and caused kidney damage to babies. Does the Minister agree that it is the regulation of the supply chain and production that needs to be addressed?