Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the regulation of stem cell-based embryo models by (1) secondary legislation, (2) a code of practice, or (3) the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

No formal assessment has been made of the regulation of stem cell-based embryo models.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) published Modernising Fertility Law in November 2023, which made a number of recommendations for legislative change, including around its regulatory powers. Ministers have met with the HFEA Chair and discussed the emerging regulatory challenges.

The Government is considering the HFEA’s priorities for changing the law and will decide how to take this forward at the earliest opportunity.