Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL]
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Department of Health, are published
separately as HL Bill 6—EN.
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Lord Darzi of Denham has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the
Human Rights Act 1998:
In my view the provisions of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] are
compatible with the Convention rights.
HL Bill 6
54/3
Contents
Part 1
Amendments of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990
Principal terms used in the 1990 Act
1
Meaning of “embryo” and “gamete”
2
Meaning of “nuclear DNA”
Activities governed by the 1990 Act
3
Prohibitions in connection with embryos
4
Prohibitions in connection with genetic material not of human origin
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
5
Membership of Authority: disqualification and tenure
6
Additional general functions of Authority
7
Duties in relation to carrying out its functions
8
Power to contract out functions etc.
9
Power to assist other public authorities
10
Power to delegate and establish committees
Scope of licences
11
Activities that may be licensed
Licence conditions
12
General conditions of licences
13
Consent to use or storage of gametes, embryos or inter-species embryos etc.
14
Conditions of licences for treatment
15
Conditions of storage licences
Grant, revocation and suspension of licences
16
Grant of licence
17
The person responsible
ii
18
Revocation and variation of licence
19
Procedure for refusal, variation or revocation of licence
20
Power to suspend licence
21
Reconsideration and appeals
Directions and guidance
22
Directions
23
Code of practice
Information
24
Register of information
25
Restrictions on disclosure of information
Mitochondrial donation
26
Miscellaneous
27
Fees
28
Inspection, entry, search and seizure
29
Offences under the 1990 Act
30
Regulations under the 1990 Act
31
Power to make consequential provision
32
Orders under the 1990 Act
Part 2
Parenthood in cases involving assisted reproduction
Meaning of “mother”
33
Application of sections 35 to 47
34
Meaning of “father”
35
Woman married at time of treatment
36
Treatment provided to woman where agreed fatherhood conditions apply
37
The agreed fatherhood conditions
38
Further provision relating to sections 35 and 36
39
Use of sperm, or transfer of embryo, after death of man providing sperm
40
Embryo transferred after death of husband etc who did not provide sperm
41
Persons not to be treated as father
Cases in which woman to be other parent
42
Woman in civil partnership at time of treatment
43
Treatment provided to woman who agrees that second woman to be parent
iii
44
The agreed female parenthood conditions
45
Further provision relating to sections 42 and 43
46
Embryo transferred after death of civil partner or intended female parent
47
Woman not to be other parent merely because of egg donation
Effect of sections 33 to 47
48
References to parties to marriage or civil partnership
49
Meaning of references to parties to a marriage
50
Meaning of references to parties to a civil partnership
Further provision about registration by virtue of section 39, 40 or 46
51
Meaning of “relevant register of births”
52
Late election by mother with consent of Registrar General
Interpretation of references to father etc. where woman is other parent
53
Interpretation of references to father etc.
Parental orders
54
55
Parental orders: supplementary provision
Amendments of enactments
56
Amendments relating to parenthood in cases involving assisted reproduction
General
57
Repeals and transitional provision relating to Part 2
58
Interpretation of Part 2
Part 3
Miscellaneous and General
59
Surrogacy arrangements
60
Exclusion of embryos from definition of “organism” in Part 6 of the EPA 1990
61
Orders and regulations: general provisions
62
Orders and regulations: parliamentary control
63
Meaning of “the 1990 Act”
64
Power to make consequential and transitional provision etc.
65
Minor and consequential amendments
66
Repeals and revocations
iv
67
Extent
68
Commencement
69
Short title
Schedule 1 —
Amendments to Schedule 1 to the 1990 Act relating to
membership of the Authority
Schedule 2 —
Activities that may be licensed under the 1990 Act
Schedule 3 —
Consent to use or storage of gametes, embryos or inter-species
embryos etc
Schedule 4 —
Schedule inserted in the 1990 Act as Schedule 3ZA
Schedule 5 —
Schedule inserted in the 1990 Act as Schedule 3B
Schedule 6 —
Amendments relating to parenthood in cases involving
assisted reproduction
Part 1 —
Part 2 —
Enactments relating only to Scotland
Part 3 —
Enactments relating only to Northern Ireland
Schedule 7 —
Schedule 8 —
Repeals
Revocations