Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor David Leslie Taylor (Labour and Co-operative Party), on Thursday, 3 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 21 members in total.

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FREE VOTES ON THE HUMAN FERTILISATION AND EMBRYOLOGY BILL

That this House notes that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill permits the creation of human-animal hybrids, so-called saviour siblings (children who could be created specifically for their tissues and part-organs) and removes the requirement on IVF clinics to have regard for a child's need for a father; notes that these issues were subject to a free vote at Committee stage; notes however that the Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee, will not be subject to a free vote for Labour hon. Members at Report stage and Third Reading; further notes that the Bill currently provides for a loophole in the law via secondary regulation that could allow reproductive cloning, germline genetic engineering of nuclear DNA and the creation of genetically-modified babies, through alterations to their mitochondrial DNA, continues the practice of the state colluding in a deception with respect to the birth certificates of donor-conceived children and allows cells to be used to make human-animal hybrid embryos without a person's explicit consent in some cases; believes that these controversial issues, which were not manifesto commitments, should be subject to a free vote; and calls on the Government to respect the consciences of individual hon. Members and allow a free vote at Report stage and Third Reading.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received 2 amendments.

1953A2

at end add `; and applauds the Catholic Church for upholding the right to life, without which sentient human beings would not have the freedom to think at all.'.

1953A1

at end add `and similarly asks the Catholic Church to understand that humans are born with a free will and the ability to reason and should therefore be allowed to make up their own minds without undue pressure from the religious authorities.'.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

1953 

1953A2 

1953A1 

Session

2007-08

Other sponsors

Jim Dobbin

Joe Benton

Peter Bottomley

Ann Winterton

Ronnie Campbell

Claire Curtis-Thomas

Subjects

Genetics Ethics Parliament Medicine

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk