Government far from U-turn on human-animal hybrid embryo research

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Jun 2007

Responding to the publication of the Government response to the Commons Science &Technology Select Committee Report on hybrid embryos, Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat member of the Committee who is leading the campaign by scientists and ethicists to get the Government to allow all types of hybrid research within the 14-day laboratory limit under license from the HFEA rather than requiring further Parliamentary approval, said:

"This formal Government response makes clear that the Government - far from having U-turned - has rejected the unanimous main recommendation of the Science &Technology Committee - that all hybrid research should be licensable by the HFEA or its successor, rather than requiring researchers to get Parliament to pass another law."

"While the Government has indicated that it will propose to Parliament the permitting of so-called cybrid research, that is already permissible under the 1990 Act and the researchers look set to get approval from the HFEA even before the Government's Bill is published."

"Yet again in this response the Government gives no good reason why some mixtures of human and animal genes in early laboratory embryos should be allowed and why others should be banned."

"The Academy of Medical Sciences, the Royal Society, the BMA, the Human Genetics Commission (HGC), the HFEA, the Royal College of Physicians, the Wellcome Trust , the MRC, the BioIndustry Association, the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee and over 200 patient groups oppose the Government's plans which are backed now only by pro-life hardliners and the anti-science brigade."