"HFEA Decision is blow to Government, which must think again" says Harris

12.17.56pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 11th Jan 2007

Commenting on the decision of the HFEA that it will postpone deciding its policy on whether to allow human-animal hybrid embryo research up to 14 days for 3 months while it conducts a consultation, Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris, who is co-ordinating a broad coalition of scientists, including three Nobel prize-winners, stem cell researchers, medical ethicists, academics, clinicians and parliamentarians in a campaign for this research to be supported, said:

"We welcome the HFEA's decision not to join the Government in its bizarre and irrational approach to this form of research. I am heartened that the HFEA in a response to a Government consultation previously expressed support for this research and has not seen need to retract this. This is a huge boost to our campaign."

In a recent White Paper the Government proposed to ban research involving the formation of animal-human hybrid embryos.

"The HFEA has chosen not to support the Government's ill-thought through and damaging policy of banning this research, which has been attacked from scientists, patients and ethicists. The Government's white paper policy now has no friends except those who are opposed to all embryo research and the Government will need to think again urgently."

The Government is due to produce a draft bill in March which will be scrutinised by a Parliamentary Select Committee prior to the full bill being debated in the next session.

"In the absence of advice from the HFEA to ban this research, it is unlikely that Parliament will support an ill-thought out Government policy in the face of overwhelming support from the experts, UK scientists, clinicians, patient groups and select committees, to allow such research." said Dr Harris, a member of the Science and Technology Select Committee which endorsed hybrid embryo research in its report in March 2005.

"The Government should take a hint from its independent advisory and regulatory body - its policy in this area is wrong and must be changed.",

END

Notes to Editors:

1) The group of experts co-ordinated by Dr Evan Harris MP campaigning for the HFEA to support human-animal hybrid embryo research up to 14 days and for the Government to reverse its announced intention to ban such research in the future yesterday sent a letter to The Times and a briefing to the HFEA.