To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 7 January 2008 (WA 151) and Baroness Thornton on 9 November 2009 (WA 111), whether the explanation for the inaccuracy in the figures given by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) chief executive in his letter on 9 November 2009 was also provided to the unidentified author of a letter to the HFEA on 18 September 2006; if not, why such an explanation was not given; and what alternative response was provided. [HL969]

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 7 January 2008 (WA 151) and Baroness Thornton on 9 November 2009 (WA 111), why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) supplied incorrect figures in response to the Freedom of Information request (F-2005-00134) regarding research licence R0152, given that the person responsible for that licence indicated in writing to Lord Alton of Liverpool on 4 September 2007 that accurate data were provided to the HFEA and records were checked by the HFEA when the licence was reviewed. [HL970]

To ask Her Majesty's Government with regard to a letter from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's legal advisor on 7 December 2009 describing the volume of correspondence about the use of eggs under research licence R0152, how many members of the press requested such information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; what response was provided to each of those applicants; how many letters or telephone calls were exchanged between members of the HFEA on that subject; how many were exchanged with external authorities; and what proportion of the HFEA's time was spent dealing with such enquiries. [HL971]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the author of the September 2006 letter has been provided with a copy of the letter sent to the noble Lord, by the HFEA's chief executive, on 9 November 2009.

In the November letter, the HFEA's chief executive stated that information relating to research licence R0122 was mistakenly included in the authority's response to the freedom of information request (F-2005-00134) as data relating to research licence R0152. The HFEA has advised that it has nothing further to add to the information given in that letter.

The HFEA has also advised that it has received a number of enquiries from the press about the use of eggs under research licence R0152. Only one such enquiry was made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The response to that enquiry concerned the number of eggs used between August 2004 and November 2005 and the regulatory oversight of the research licence.

I have asked the HFEA to examine all records of correspondence and telephone communications concerning the use of eggs under research licence R0152 and to let me have the information requested by the noble Lord. The volume of documentation to be examined is substantial but the HFEA will endeavour to complete this within 20 working days, which is the statutory time period prescribed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I will write to the noble Lord in due course and place a copy of my letter in the Library.