John Reid is set to discuss the US cloning ban with President Bush's medical chief.

The health secretary was set to meet Tommy G Thompson on Wednesday as part of his visit to Washington.

Reid will discuss the differences between Britain and the US over the controversial issue of stem cell research.

President Bush has endorsed two bills introduced by the House of Representatives which seek a total ban on cloning - including stem cell research.

His administration had already imposed strict limits on research by putting a cap on the available sources of stem cells and denying federal funding.

The president is currently considering whether to enact an order issued by the Clinton administration to allow federal funding of stem cell research on embryos using private funds.

If it gets the goes ahead researchers are likely to only be allowed to use existing collections of stem cells.

In comparison Britain has taken a more liberal approach to the issue.

Under UK law researchers may use not only embryos from in vitro fertilization, but they can create human embryos.

They can also clone embryos and the stem cells they contain - known as therapeutic cloning.

Britain's lead over the US has led to a "brain drain" of leading academics coming to the UK to continue their work.