ANIMAL-HUMAN HYBRIDS FOR RESEARCH

That this House notes the intention of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to decide a licence application to create animal-human hybrids for research purposes in January 2007; understands the potential value of chimeras in developing cures and treatments for many of the world's most devastating diseases and medical conditions; believes that new legislation is required to clarify the nature of these creations, and to establish their legal status for medical research purposes; further believes that such legislation should ensure that all such creations are destroyed in line with the current 14-day rule for human embryo cultures and should prohibit their use for reproductive purposes of any nature, animal or human; and further believes that such fundamentally important policies are best developed by Parliament rather than an unelected and unaccountable body like the HFEA.