ROLE OF FATHERS

Early day motion 2135, tabled 16 October 2007 by Geraldine Smith (Labour). Signed by 43 members.

That this House notes with great concern that the Government has proposed in the draft Human Tissue and Embryos Bill removing the requirement that those providing IVF services must have regard for the need of any resulting child for a father in subsection 2(b) and also facilitating the deliberate bringing of children into the world for whom no man can legally be considered to be their father in Clause 51 (1); expresses concern that, given the wealth of research demonstrating the very important and distinctive contribution fathers bring to parenting, these proposals are profoundly misinformed and clearly undermine the best interests of the child; recognises that this move is inconsistent with the recent statement made by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions that "we want to significantly reduce the numbers of children with no Dad on their birth certificate", and prioritises the desires of adults over the rights of children in the area of assisted reproduction; and calls on the Government to ensure that the final bill preserves the 1990 father's provision and does not propose denying any child from birth a legal father who is male.

Signatures by party: Conservative 22, Labour 11, Liberal Democrat 6, DUP 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.