Draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Caroline Johnson Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd October 2024 General Committees

[Dr Caroline Johnson (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Mundell. The Opposition will not object to the draft regulations, particularly because they were drafted by the Conservative Government and introduced by my former colleague, Maria Caulfield, who was then the Minister. They were announced last year and were laid earlier this year.

However, I have a couple of questions. The draft regulations mention donations from family members. Given that we know that infants conceived where both biological parents have close family relations are at higher risk of genetic and other medical conditions, will the Minister update us on any specific guidance on the use of the word “family” in relation to who can donate? Will he confirm that the NHS will still screen all donations for HIV?

The Minister said that there are no implications for the NHS. Does that mean that shared motherhood will not be provided for by the NHS or that the NHS will not provide services to those who are HIV positive, or does he expect the numbers to be so small that it will not make any difference? Finally, he said that the provisions are being brought forward in Northern Ireland under the Windsor framework and the EU withdrawal Act. Does that mean that he considers the ability to bring in these regulations to be a benefit of Brexit?