Impact of the legislative structure
on UK science
103. One consideration in establishing a legislative
structure for research should be the impact which it may have
on UK science. As we have seen earlier, the UK's regulatory system
has traditionally been viewed as an important element in the pre-eminency
of the UK in this scientific field. It has been viewed with envy
by researchers from countries with more restrictive regimes and
it has been influential in the development of policy-making in
other countries.[237]
There have to be concerns that changes to the regulatory system
should not harm the reputation and make-up of the UK science base
but should encourage it to develop in order to realise the expectations
placed on it in terms of knowledge and tackling disease.
104. The current Government proposals have led some
in both Government and industry to express concerns about their
impact. The Department for Trade and Industry argued that the
policy "may damage the widespread international view that
the UK has one of the best regulatory systems in relation to stem
cell research".[238]
This is supported by the BioIndustry Association who told us that
the Government's proposals to prohibit the creation of human-animal
chimera and hybrid embryos for research "would halt current
innovative research into diseases such as Alzheimer's and motor
neurone disease" and that it would "send out an incredibly
negative message about the UK as a location for stem cell research
and innovative biomedical research". The Association argued
that "the BIA does not believe that this is compatible with
the Government's aim of ensuring the UK is a world leader in this
field".[239]
We believe that the term
'prohibition' used in the Government proposals can be taken to
imply a negative approach to research in areas such as this, as
opposed to the positive connotations implied through regulation
of such research practice. A ban and the prospect of a ban
in draft legislation on human-animal chimera or hybrid embryos
would undermine the UK's leading position in stem cell research
and the international reputation of science in the UK.
105. There are also issues in respect of the current
competitive advantage UK scientists have in stem cell research.
The DTI reported "strong views" from industry that a
regulatory ban on the use of hybrids for research may harm the
climate for both company and academic research".[240]
One scientist, Professor Anne McLaren of the Wellcome Trust Gurdon
Institute, commented that "no doubt this research would eventually
be carried out in other countries, but at present UK scientists
have a competitive advantage". [241]
This was echoed by Professor Colin Blakemore of the MRC who believed
that "the pace of progress in this field" is "really
quite extraordinary". He thought that the UK had "an
advantageous position in this through a relatively liberal approach
but with a very firm regulatory environment" and that this
put the UK in a strong position, "but with a lead which will
very, very easily be lost, given the rate of progress".[242]
He considered prohibitive legislation in this area to be "a
serious disadvantage in a very competitive and exciting area of
science.[243]
When asked if it were possible to quantify the UK lead
in this area, Mr David Macauley, Chief Executive of the Stem Cell
Foundation claimed that "at the moment, the analogy is we
are watching this like sand running though our fingers, our competitive
advantage, and this proposed ban does nothing but accelerate that".[244]
106. One further possible negative impact on future
competitiveness was raised with us by Professor Martin Bobrow,
Deputy Chairman of the Wellcome Trust. He was concerned that "the
long-term effect of creating an unpleasant public atmosphere needlessly
around issues of this sort is that it discourages very able, young
researchers from entering the field, and it can take a very long
time to reverse that sort of trend, if it becomes established".[245]
107. We asked the Minister for her views on the suggestions
that the UK may lose its competitive advantage in stem cell research
in response to a ban on the creation of human-animal chimera or
hybrid embryos for research, but were unable to obtain a clear
response.[246] We
are concerned that a ban or a proposed ban may not only encourage
researchers to leave the UK in order to undertake their research
in a more permissive regulatory regime, but it may also inhibit
early stage researchers entering the field. Whilst we do not believe
that UK competitiveness should dictate policy in a research area,
we believe that the Government should consider this as a contributory
factor and we recommend that the Government ensure that it is
properly briefed on potential implications from future legislation
in this area.
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