The inquiry
5. We launched our inquiry on 10 January 2007, with
terms of reference intended to reflect the Committee's interest
not only in the current Government proposals, but in the impact
of these proposals on UK science.[5]
The inquiry was to focus upon the appropriateness of the proposals
for legislation of the creation of human-animal chimera or hybrid
embryos for research purposes, as set out in the Government's
recent White Paper, Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Act: Proposals for revised legislation (including establishment
of the Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos) (Cm 6989)
and on the impact of these proposals upon stem cell research in
the UK.[6]
6. The briefing which accompanied the announcement
of the draft Human Tissues and Embryology Bill in the Queen's
Speech indicated that the Bill would be introduced in mid-March
and sent to a joint Committee of both Houses for pre-legislative
scrutiny. The date for its appearance has since been revised to
May 2007.[7] Since we were
keen that our inquiry should be useful in informing the preparation
of the draft Bill, it was essential that we conducted and reported
on this inquiry as rapidly as our need for thoroughness would
allow. Consequently, we announced the inquiry immediately (in
January 2007) and were obliged to give short deadlines with regard
to receiving submissions of written evidence and limited notice
to those witnesses required for oral evidence sessions. We appreciate
that some difficulties may have been caused by our tight deadlines
and are most grateful for the efforts of all contributors to work
within the necessary timescale. In particular, we would like to
place on record our thanks to the secretariat of the Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Authority which has responded to our many requests
for information efficiently and promptly.
7. We held a private seminar at the start of the
inquiry to enable us to learn more about the scientific issues
surrounding the subject area from: Professor Ian Wilmut FRS (University
of Edinburgh), Dr Stephen Minger (King's College London) and Dr
Justin St. John (Birmingham University). We later visited the
facilities for stem cell research at Dr Minger's laboratory. An
informal meeting was also held with Professor Hui Z. Sheng, Professor
in developmental biology at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
School of Medicine and Dr Robin Lovell-Badge, the National Institute
for Medical Research, UK. We are particularly grateful to Professor
Sheng for discussing her own research in this area so frankly
and for giving us her informed views on the UK regulatory structures,
as well as on the science.
8. We held three oral evidence sessions, during which
we heard from the following:
- Dr Lyle Armstrong from the
Institute of Human Genetics, Newcastle University, Professor Chris
Shaw of the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
and Professor Austin Smith, Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell
Research, University of Cambridge.
- Ms Shirley Harrison, Chair
of the HFEA, Angela McNab, Chief Executive of the HFEA and Professor
Neva Haites, a Member of the HFEA.
- Dr David King, Human Genetics
Alert, Dr Calum MacKellar, Director of the Scottish Council on
Human Bioethics and The Right Reverend Dr Lee Rayfield, Bishop
of Swindon, representing the Church of England.
- Mr Simon Denegri from the Association
of Medical Research Charities and
Professor Raanon Gillon, Emeritus Professor of Medical Ethics
at Imperial College London and former editor of the Journal of
Bioethics.
- Professor Colin Blakemore,
Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council, Professor Martin
Bobrow, Deputy Chairman of the Wellcome Trust and Mr David Macauley,
Chief Executive of the UK Stem Cells Foundation.
- Caroline Flint MP, Minister
of State for Public Health, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical
Officer and Mr Mark Bale, Deputy-Director of Scientific Development
and Bioethics at the Department of Health.
The transcripts of these sessions are published with
this Report, together with the written submissions received in
response to our call for evidence and requests for supplementary
information.
9. Finally, we held an additional public seminar
to explore the wider issues raised by the inquiry with: Professor
Sir David King, Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor
Lord Winston, Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies, Imperial
College, London, The Rt Revd Lord Harries of Pentregarth, Chairman
of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Law and Ethics
Committee, the writer AN Wilson and Dr David Jones, Academic Director
of the School of Theology, Philosophy, and History at St Mary's
University College, Twickenham. This is the first occasion upon
which we have held such an event and we found it to be of great
value in our deliberations.
10. We are grateful to all who contributed to this
inquiry. We would like to place on record our thanks to our specialist
adviser in law and ethics, Professor Roger Brownsword, King's
College London, and in scientific issues surrounding the inquiry,
Dr Valerie Wilson, University of Edinburgh. We also received valuable
assistance from the Scrutiny Unit and Legal Services Office in
the House of Commons in the course of this inquiry.
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