To ask Her Majesty’s Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 14 January (WA 170–1) regarding multiple inquiries from the media about the use of eggs under research licence R0152, what specific information was sought from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s press office, rather than requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and what were the details of each response provided to those requests at the time. [HL1375]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that its press office receives hundreds of queries every year, a large number of which are over the telephone, and it is not, therefore, possible to put together a comprehensive record of the information requested by the noble Lord.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government further to the reply by the Minister of State for the Department of Health, Gillian Merron, on 12 January (Official Report, Commons, col. 552), why there is to be an internal governance review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s performance instead of an externally led inquiry. [HL1376]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government further to the reply by the Minister of State for the Department of Health, Gillian Merron, on 12 January (Official Report, Commons, col. 552), what arrangements are in place to ensure that all appropriate information will be provided to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s internal governance review. [HL1377]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a full copy of the documents regarding the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority faxed to the office of the Minister of State for the Department of Health, Gillian Merron, by Dr Evan Harris on 12 January. [HL1378]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it determined it unnecessary for the review to be undertaken by an external person. The purpose of the review is to assess the adequacy of the Authority’s revised governance arrangements in relation to the threshold between administrative enforcement of its powers and the sphere of criminal law. The HFEA consider this internal review to be the right way to look critically at what happened and to ensure changes made since then, to its processes and procedures, provide it with adequate governance arrangements.

The senior officer undertaking the review has devoted many months to reviewing the extensive documentation held by the HFEA. The senior officer will shortly contact those involved inviting them to contribute.

A copy of the HFEA internal memo provided to the office of the Minister for Public Health by Dr. Evan Harris MP on 12 January 2010 has been placed in the Library.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government further to the reply by the Minister of State for the Department of Health, Gillian Merron, on 12 January (HC Deb, col. 552), what was the cost to public funds of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s investigations of Dr Mohamed Taranissi’s Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre; what was the outcome of those investigations; in what capacity were any staff of the Authority involved in the inquiry subsequently employed by the Department of Health; and whether individuals associated with the inquiry had their salaries reduced as a result. [HL1410]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it understands that by the term “investigations” resulting in costs to public funds, the noble Lord is referring to the settlements paid to Mr Mohamed Taranissi in relation to two judicial reviews. The first involved the quashing of a warrant and the second involved setting aside a Licence Committee decision. Those costs totalled approximately £770,000.

In 2006, the HFEA had concerns that Mr Taranissi was not complying with the statutory regulatory scheme that all licensed clinics in the United Kingdom have to follow. A number of outcomes followed, including legal challenges and a protracted licensing process. Mr Taranissi was granted a new three-year licence for the Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre in April 2009 and was offered a new one-year licence for the Reproductive Genetics Institute on 5 January 2010.

One member of HFEA staff subsequently went on secondment to the Department of Health from 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008, and subsequently completed a one-month’s fixed term appointment with the department from 1 October to 28 October. Both the secondment and the fixed term appointment were in the role of Director of Public Health Performance and Delivery.

No individual’s salaries were reduced as a result of the inquiry. Information on HFEA salaries is outlined in its annual report and accounts, which have already been placed in the Library.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each document in file CPO 2/10—David Alton Bill to reduce time limit on abortion to 18 weeks, held by the Department of Health. [HL1412]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each document in file CPO 2/10—David Alton Bill to reduce time limit on abortion in other countries, held by the Department of Health. [HL1413]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each document in file CPO 2/22 S OF S AND PS(H) Meeting With David Alton 04/12/1991, and Follow Up Papers, held by the Department of Health. [HL1414]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each document in file CPO 2/23 S OF S Meeting With David Alton Feb 1996 And Follow Up Papers, held by the Department of Health. [HL1415]

It is an established convention that Ministers of one Administration cannot see the documents of a previous Administration. I am therefore unable to provide the information requested.