Lord Sainsbury backs therapeutic cloning

The UK government's Science Minister, Lord Sainsbury, has sparked debate by announcing his support for a change in the law to allow research into therapeutic cloning. In an interview for the Daily Telegraph, he said that 'the important benefits which can come from this research outweigh any other considerations one might have - that would be my own personal ethical judgement'.

Lord Sainsbury's comments have provoked criticism from shadow health secretary Liam Fox, who accused Lord Sainsbury of 'sweeping away all the complex ethical issues with complete contempt', and of failing to consult the public on the issue. In response, Lord Sainsbury issued a statement saying that no final decision had been made by the government, and that newspaper reports claiming that therapeutic cloning research had been given the go-ahead were 'pure speculation'.

The results of a report into the ethical and scientific issues surrounding therapeutic cloning - the use of cloned early embryo cells to grow new body tissues - were presented to the government in May, by Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson. If, after considering the report, the government decides to allow research into therapeutic cloning, it will first have to amend the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.

Ruth Deech, chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, said last week that nobody wanted cloning of babies, but there was a growing consensus that much good could come out of the therapeutic cloning of embryos. 'It will be gradual, and every step will be checked by us' she told BBC Radio 4. 'Our powers are backed by law. We give licences and we can take them away' she added.