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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 7: 7: Clause 14, page 9, line 34, at end insert— ““(6BA) In the case of treatment services falling within paragraph 1 of Schedule 3ZA (use of gametes of a person not receiving those services) or paragraph 3 of that Schedule (use of embryo taken from a woman not receiving those services), the information provided by virtue of subsection (6) or (6A) must include such information as is proper about— (a) the importance of informing any resulting child at an early age that the child results from the gametes of a person who is not a parent of the child, and (b) suitable methods of informing such a child of that fact.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, much of our discussion about the Bill has related to the importance of donor-conceived people being made aware of that fact. It has been expressed by, among others, the noble Baronesses, Lady Warnock and Lady Finlay, that this should at least be provided for in the code of practice, but, more ideally, also in the Bill. The Government recognise the importance of ensuring that prospective parents understand the importance of telling a child at an early age that they were donor-conceived. A child who grows up with this knowledge will be better informed and is likely to have a better family relationship. They would receive the information from their parents in the most sensitive, constructive and least distressing way. It is the Government’s view that this is best achieved by education rather than enforcement. The Donor Conception Network has a planned programme of work, supported by the Department of Health, to promote the importance of letting donor-conceived children know at an early age that they are donor-conceived. The work will include providing, for patients who are to have treatment with donated sperm, eggs or embryos, guidance on the process of donor conception, its implications and its particular responsibilities. The aim is to prepare them for being the parents of a donor-conceived child. The work will also involve a ““telling and talking”” project that aims to encourage parents who have donor-conceived children to tell them, from a young age, about their origins. The work will be piloted and evaluated to assess the best way of communicating with parents and prospective parents, and to give them an opportunity to feed back information. Encouraging openness in this way is the best way forward. The 1990 Act requires counselling to be available, and for such relevant information as is proper to be provided by all licensed treatment clinics. It is a condition of all licences that a woman shall not be provided with treatment services unless she and any person who is to be treated together with her have been given a suitable opportunity to receive proper counselling and relevant information. We introduced an amendment on Report that went some way to address the issue of donor-conceived children finding out about their origins, but following further discussions and amendments tabled by the noble Earl, Lord Howe, and the noble Lord, Lord Jenkin, we agreed to come back with something more specific. Amendment No. 7 addresses concerns expressed in relation to the importance of parents discussing with their donor-conceived children, from an early age, details of their conception. Amendments Nos. 8 and 16 have two effects. The first strengthens the Bill with respect to the provision of counselling and information, in addition to requiring that all patients be offered counselling and provided with information. It also requires that the HFEA produces, in its code of practice, guidance for the clinics about doing so. In addition, Amendment No. 16 introduces a provision which ensures that it is a condition of all licences that people being treated using donor gametes, or embryos taken from a woman who is not being treated, must be provided with information about the importance of telling their child that they were donor conceived, as well as information about the best way to do this. The combined effect of these amendments will mean that clinics are obliged to provide patients with information about the importance of talking to children about their donor conception, and that the code of practice should provide details of what information should be provided, as well as how the offer of counselling should be made. I beg to move.