Response to the HCP 399-I, session 2003/04 (ISBN 0215018559)

Government responses to HCP 399-I, session 2003-04 (ISBN 0215018559)

Approximately 1% of births in the UK were conceived using IVF. At present IVF and embryo research are controlled by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority which was formed by a 1990 Act, since then scientific progress has been rapid and the Department of Health has announced a review of that Act. This extensive inquiry will inform that review. It covers: regulation of assisted reproduction, problems with HFE Act; the operation of the Act; provision of infertility services; review of the Act; legislative and regulatory models. It makes recommendations on issues such as choosing the sex of babies; the need for a separate review of abortion; the regulatory bodies required; and a legislative framework that balances the freedom of the individual with the interests of the state, so that any intervention has a sound ethical base.

Government response to HCP 462, session 2003-04 (ISBN 0215017846)

The focus of this inquiry, by the Science and Technology Committee, was the support by the UK Government for the Beagle 2 project developed as part of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express mission. The Committee found the Government showed enthusiasm for this project, but was unable to provide a guaranteed financial backing for the development of a lander, resulting in a failure to secure sufficient sponsorship income, which was subsequently seen to have a detrimental impact on the project's success. The Committee feels, that Government needs to put in place a system that can deal with major financial commitments at short notice. In hindsight, the development of the lander and orbiter separately is seen as wrong, impeding the flexible co-ordination of the mission, leading to tensions between the Beagle 2 consortium, ESA and other contractors. Further, there was a lack of co-ordinated oversight between these three groups, and therefore a failure to identify important weaknesses in the mission. Despite the failure of Beagle, the Committee does see some positive potential for future projects, both in scientific and educational benefits, but that the costs of such projects would benefit from greater participation by other organizations.