The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001 were approved by the British House of Commons on 19 December 2000 and by the House of Lords on 22 January 2001. A report by the government-appointed Chief Medical Officer’s Expert Group: Stem Cell Research: Medical Progress with Responsibility (16 August 2000) paved the way for this approval. The Regulations now include the extension of the research goals eligible for a licence which had been recommended by this report. When the Regulations were adopted, a preliminary moratorium was agreed. Pursuant to this moratorium approvals of projects, which in accordance with these Regulations are now eligible for licensing, were suspended until submission of a report from the Special Committee of the House of Lords set up in March 2001. This report was submitted on 27 February 2002. It recommends permitting and promoting research with human embryonic stem cells in addition to research with human adult stem cells. The report argues that the therapeutic potential of stem cells could not be fully exploited unless both approaches were pursued at the same time. The moratorium was withdrawn after submission of the report.

Report by the Chief Medical Officer’s Expert Group: Stem Cell Research: Medical Progress with Responsibility [June 2000]. Online Version 

Internet documentation of the debate in the House of Commons [19 December 2000]. Online Version 

Internet documentation of the debate in the House of Lords of 22 January 2001. Online Version 

Report from The House of Lords Select Committee Stem Cell Research [27 February 2002]. Online Version