The Parliamentary Joint Select Committee published its report on the Human Tissue and Embryos (Draft) Bill on 1 August 2007. In nine working weeks, (curtailed by the end of the Parliamentary session), the Committee has gathered an impressive array of evidence, engaged in novel methods of public engagement, and has produced a thoughtful and balanced report. It seems appropriate that the opening chapters of the report deal with the central place of public opinion, and value of ethical deliberation. The report notes that whilst a variety of witnesses claimed that their views reflected public opinion ‘responses to public consultations often come from those with strong views which may not be representative of those held by the general public’ and the views expressed are by their nature self-selecting. As a consequence, independent public policy research, commissioned by Government is needed, as is a more active approach by the Government and the regulator to improve and inform public understanding.

Ensuring that the law takes account of relevant scientific developments and changing public opinion is one aim of the draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, published on 17 May 2007. The draft Bill will update parts of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990) and the Human Tissue Act (2004) to ‘ensure that the law remains effective and fit for purpose in the early 21 st century’. If the Bill is enacted in its current form, it will allow the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos for research under licence, on condition that the resulting inter-species embryo is destroyed within 14 days of creation.

The Bill also proposes the following changes:

• That existing regulators, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority be dissolved and replaced by a new body – the Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos (RATE)
• Clarifying the basis upon which research and prenatal testing of embryos can be licensed (to include serious mitochondrion abnormality and treatment of saviour siblings)
• Licences for treatment remove the need of that child for a father.

The new Authority will also take on licensing responsibilities for material for human application, under the EU Tissue and Cells Directive, including blood and blood products transplantation from the MHRA.

The Joint Committee on the Draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill has launched an econsultation forum which will run until 26 June. The terms of the consultation is limited to four areas which have already been scrutinised by Committee in oral evidence sessions: 

• The scope of the Regulatory Authority to take decisions about licensing of research into inter-species embryos
• The sex selection of embryos for family balancing purposes
• Whether Parliament, the Regulatory Authority or research scientists should take decisions about the use of embryos in research
• Whether Parliament, the Regulatory Authority or individual doctors in consultation with their patients should take decisions about the use of embryos in fertility treatment

The SGPPH aims to provide a forum for discussing research, policy and practice relating to genomics and population health. With this in mind we have launched a web based Discussion Forum to enable members to comment (both formally and informally) on issues of national policy and practice, facilitate discussion and debate, and to enable networks to grow.