Statement on HFEA Chair
17 October 2007
Following the Government´s announcement that the establishment of a single Regulatory Body for Tissue and Embryos (RATE) is not to go ahead, Shirley Harrison has decided to step down as Chair of the HFEA as of 1 November 2007, but will remain as Chair of the Human Tissue Authority (HTA).
Walter Merricks CBE, a current HFEA member, will take over as interim Chair of the HFEA, pending the appointment of a new Chair by the NHS Appointments Commission. Shirley Harrison said:
"I have decided to step down as Chair of the HFEA as I feel that, given the Government´s recent announcement, there is no longer a rationale for one person to chair both authorities.
"I am pleased to have had the opportunity to lead the Authority during a period when a number of controversial and challenging issues attracting much public interest have been addressed."
Ends
Notes
The HFEA is the independent regulator for IVF treatment and embryo research. Our role is to protect patients and the public interest, to drive improvement in the treatment and research sectors and to provide information to the public and policymakers about treatment and research.
The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The HFEA´s principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), donor insemination (DI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.
Biography of Mr Walter Merricks, interim Chair of the HFEA*
Walter is the UK's Financial Ombudsman, heading an organisation of 850 staff that deals with consumer complaints about financial firms. He has a legal background, having qualified as a solicitor, worked as a legal academic and as assistant secretary-general of the Law Society.
He and his wife have two children conceived by donor insemination, after having discovered that he was infertile. Together with other families they founded the Donor Conception Network in 1993, a self-help charity that supports parents of donor-conceived children and those contemplating treatment. The Network has over 1,100 member families. He has been a member of the Authority since 2002 and chairs its Information and Communications Committee and serves as a member of its Regulation Committee.
Personal interests:
- Consultancies and/or direct employment: Chief Ombudsman, Financial Ombudsman Service
- Fee-paid work other than that associated with the HFEA: None
- Shareholdings: A portfolio of shares managed by Heartwood Wealth Ltd
- Other Public Appointments: None
- Other: Secretary and treasurer of Donor Conception Network.
*Walter Merricks´ appointment as interim Chair is subject to approval from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).
Appointments of HFEA members by the NHS Appointments Commission
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public. All appointments are made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice.
Government´s response to the Scrutiny Committee on RATE:
"16. Having taken due account of the evidence presented to the Committee, the Government accepts the recommendation to reconsider the proposal to establish RATE. The Government will therefore amend the Bill to drop the proposal for RATE. We will, however, bring in certain provisions for the HFEA that would have been applied to RATE. These include provisions to allow HFEA members to delegate functions to HFEA staff and, with the necessary safeguards, for powers to delegate or contract out functions outside the authority."
To access the full report, please visit the Department of Health website.
For more information, please contact our press office.
Page last updated: 11 March 2009