To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the work of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority does not assume its full powers until 1 August 1991. The authority has made good progress in undertaking the preparatory work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he will give to the licensing authority, established under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, about the proposed destruction of fertilised embryos currently held in storage facilities.

I will write to the hon. Member.