Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 26 January 2015 (HL4064), why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) does not consider that discussion of genetic modification, as it might be considered to apply to the creation of human admixed embryos, can usefully add to the debate on the definition of genetic modification in humans; whether the basis for the HFEA’s particular position is legal, scientific, doctrinal, ideological or pecuniary; whether the HFEA is capable of distinguishing between human embryos that have been genetically modified or not; if so, why it is unable to determine whether the generation of any human admixed embryos as defined under section 4A(6)(a) to (c) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 would constitute genetic modification; and if not, how the HFEA is able to regulate such manipulation of human embryos.

We are advised that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) does not believe that discussion of genetic modification, as it might be considered to apply to the creation of human admixed embryos, can usefully add to the debate on the definition of genetic modification in humans. This is because the current debate relates to the use of human eggs and embryos, which might be permitted for use in treatment, which would not involve the use of animal DNA, eggs or embryos.

The HFEA has also advised that the regulatory framework enables the Authority to provide appropriate oversight of all embryos used in treatment and research.