Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill

Government Department: Health

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson in the Lords: Liz Barker
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson in the Commons: TBC

Government proposals
· Ensure that all human embryos outside the body - whatever the process used in their creation are subject to regulation.
· Regulate the creation of ‘inter-species’ embryos.
· Ban sex selection for non-medical reasons.
· Regulate inter-species embryos for scientific research - allowing them under HFEA license.
· Recognise same-sex parents as legal parents, including details of what names are to be listed on a birth certificate
· Regulate the creation of ‘saviour siblings’
· Retain the duty to take account of the 'welfare of the child' in providing fertility treatment, but removing the reference to 'the need for a father'
· Abortion: amendments may be made to the bill on the issue of reducing the upper time limit from 24 weeks and a compulsory cooling-off period between diagnosis of pregnancy and any abortion.

Liberal Democrat response

The bill and subsequent debate is welcome – being the first opportunity to review the legislation related to human embryology since the 1990 Act.

The Liberal Democrats have previously supported therapeutic cloning and so welcome the new regulation on human embryos outside of the body. The debate will be over whether proposed definitions are adequate and/or should be left to regulation-making powers; and whether - in respect of genetically modified animals - the Government can sustain a clear distinction between HFEA matters and Animal Procedure (Home Office) regulation.

The ban on selecting the sex of offspring for non-medical reasons would be a free vote, as would allowing research on inter-species embryos. Party policy supports recognising same sex parents as legal parents as part of our anti-discrimination policy. Provisions to recognise same-sex couples as legal parents of children conceived through the use of donated sperm, eggs or embryos are a welcome logical and legislative consequence of civil partnerships, the Sexual Orientation Discrimination Regulations and the Human Rights Act. It means clinics will no longer be able to deny treatment to lesbians and single mothers out of hand. In practice this will mean regarding a birth mother's female partner as a legal parent.

The issue of a national bio-ethics commission or a joint committee will be discussed. We await further details in debate.

Although the bill does not have anything specifically on abortion, it will give the opportunity to put down amendments on the issue.

Abortion is a free vote issue. In the past, the party has emphasised the need for better information for pregnant women regarding the full range of options and support available to them. We have also promoted the importance of relationship education in schools, which would inform pupils about birth control and the full ramifications of pregnancy.

Applicability (e.g. Scotland)
The United Kingdom for assisted reproduction and embryo research. England, Wales and Northern Ireland for other human tissues and cells research. The Government will work closely with the Devolved Administrations on the responsibilities they have in this area.

Many of the votes on this bill will be free votes.

Further Information
Lords Second Reading - 19/11/07 21/11/07
Committee - 03/12/07 04/12/07 10/12/07 12/12/07
Report - 15/01/08 21/01/08
Progress of the Bill

(NB. Information on the stages a bill goes through to become an act of Parliament is available by following this link.)

Last updated 24/01/08