HUMAN FERTILISATION AND EMBRYOLOGY BILL

Early day motion 1127, tabled 5 March 2008 by David Burrowes (Conservative). Signed by 123 members.

That this House believes that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill raises important issues of conscience which merit the full consideration of the whole House; notes during the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 the issue of embryo research, abortion and Schedule 2 was debated and voted on in a committee of the whole House; further notes that the Joint Committee on the Human Tissue and Embryo (Draft) Bill noted that `when what is now the 1990 Act was before Parliament the issue of embryo research was put to a free vote' and considered that the creation and use of inter-species embryos for research purposes is a comparable issue and recommended that the issue be put to a free vote; and calls upon the Leader of the House and usual channels to ensure that a committee of the whole House is arranged to consider issues of conscience arising from the Bill.

Signatures by party: Conservative 79, Liberal Democrat 18, Labour 14, DUP 7, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.