To ask Her Majesty’s Government what other techniques for mitochondrial donation, other than those being considered in the draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations 2015, are being considered by them and by the Chief Medical Officer; whether such techniques will require the destruction of human embryos; whether they will require fresh regulations to be laid before Parliament; and whether such innovations have been drawn to the attention of the relevant parliamentary committees, ministers, or those involved in public consultations.
Answered on
20 February 2015
The Government is aware of a new technique, which is at an early stage of development. It involves the use of polar bodies from fertilised or unfertilised eggs. The Expert Panel convened by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has looked at the available evidence. The Panel published an addendum to its third report, setting out its recommendations on Polar Body Transfer, on 15 October 2014. This can be found on the HFEA’s website at:
http://www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/2014-10-07_-_Polar_Body_Transfer_Review_-_Final.PDF
The Draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations 2015 would not allow this new technique. If it was considered appropriate for clinical use, after rigorous assessment and consultation, that could not take place unless Parliament considered and approved new regulations to allow it.