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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 111A: 111A: Clause 14, page 9, line 14, at end insert— ““( ) For the purposes of this Part the term ““a supportive parent”” means a parent who is willing and able to make a long term commitment to safeguard the child’s health, development and welfare and provide, in a manner appropriate to the age and development of the child, direction and guidance.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, I apologise to the House on behalf of my noble friend Lord Northbourne, who unfortunately is detained today. This amendment stands in my name, his name and the name of the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss. There have been previous debates on the need to define what supportive parents do rather than, as is currently the situation, simply what parents do not do, so we felt that this amendment would be an important addition to the legislation. At previous stages, this amendment and the idea of defining supportive parenting had a great deal of support. Indeed, at the close of proceedings on the previous day of Report, the Minister gave an assurance in relation to this amendment. I hope that today he will be able to confirm that I and my noble friends are correct in our understanding that the wording of this amendment, which reflects the wording in the letter sent round by the Minister, will be incorporated into the code of practice that goes with this Bill. On 21 January, the Minister said that the Government, "““believe it would be appropriate to have an explanation of this term””—" supportive parenting— "““in guidance produced by the HFEA—in its code of practice, which is subject to approval by the Secretary of State””.—[Official Report, 21/1/08; col. 55.]" I hope that today the Minister will be able to confirm that the Secretary of State intends to include in the code of practice the definition with the wording as laid out. If that is the case, we will be delighted and will not need to press for anything to go in the Bill. I beg to move.