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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL]

My Lords, one of the many lessons I learnt at the other end of the Corridor, during a very long time as a Member of Parliament, was the danger of using the word ““reasonable””. As was frequently pointed out, what is reasonable to one person is not reasonable to another. I can think of at least one Bill that fell at that hurdle because there was no way of being absolutely certain that everyone would accept that something was ““reasonable””. Another thing that worries me about the amendment is that it echoes some of the current problems with certain Members of Parliament saying, ““I thought I did adhere to all the rules and laws about money. Oh dear, I didn’t—but I was being perfectly reasonable””. There is real danger in failing to acknowledge that Bills must be clear. We have been taught the lesson time and again even if we have not learnt it. Legislation must mean the same thing to different people. If it does not, it could be translated in a way that is very convenient to some people. I am not saying that I am against the amendment per se. I am just saying that the way in which it is worded will open great difficulties down the line.