Quintavalle, R (on the application of) v Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority

(Transcript of the Handed Down Judgment of Smith Bernal Wordwave Limited, 190 Fleet Street London EC4A 2AG Tel No: 020 7421 4040, Fax No: 020 7831 8838 Official Shorthand Writers to the Court)

Richard Gordon QC and Martin Chamberlain (instructed by Coningsbys) for the Claimant Miss Dinah Rose (instructed by Morgan Cole) for the Defendant ____________________

I shall have to refer to other aspects of the licensing system later. The other side of the coin is what the Act prohibits. Section 3, which is headed "Prohibitions in connection with embryos", provides:

I include reference to this spat out of historical interest. I accept that it has no bearing on the task of statutory interpretation. Before I turn to that task, it is appropriate for me to recount a little more history.

Section 1(1)(a) provides that, except where otherwise stated, "embryo means a live human embryo where fertilisation is complete".