22 February 2007

  The UK House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee has recently launched an inquiry into the appropriateness of current Government proposals for regulation of research using chimera and hybrid embryos. Further details on the inquiry can be found at:

  http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/science_and_technology_committee/scitechchimera.cfm

  We understand that you participated in the embryo research expert meeting held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) on 30 November 2006. The Science and Technology Select Committee is particularly keen to ascertain the views of expert scientists in connection with our inquiry. We should therefore be grateful if you would tell us whether you support the current UK Government proposal that:

"the creation of hybrid and chimera embryos in vitro, should not be allowed. However, the Government also proposes that the law will contain a power enabling regulations to set out circumstances in which the creation of hybrid and chimera embryos in vitro may in future be allowed under licence, for research purposes only".[73]

  Since this is an inquiry running to an especially tight deadline, we would be grateful for an immediate response to this query, with a final deadline of Wednesday 28 February 2007.