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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL]

My Lords, I also support Amendment No. 21. On Report, I supported an entirely separate amendment, expressing my opposition, in principle, to what we now call human admixed embryos. The majority of noble Lords voted in favour of such embryos and I accept the decision of the House. However, given the highly controversial nature of these embryos, it is right and proper that this House places clear and reasonable limitations upon where they are used. Amendment No. 21—which we call the Hunt test—would ensure that human embryos are not used wastefully or unnecessarily. Such research would be a last resort. It is surely not unreasonable that human embryos, which many consider to have unique moral status, should be used only where other avenues for that research are shown not to be viable. On Report, the noble and right reverend Lord Harries of Pentregarth and the noble Lord, Lord Patel—as the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, has told us—indicated their belief that the HFEA already considers whether the use of embryos is necessary. If that is true, I simply do not understand why they oppose including a provision that would ensure that the HFEA continues to act in this manner in the future. The noble Lord, Lord Darzi, suggests, in response to this amendment, that a rigid framework of the criteria set out in the legislation would seriously limit the research that the HFEA can license. Will the Minister clarify what kind of research the HFEA could permit which would fall outside the limits set by this amendment and how such research could be justified? On numerous occasions, several noble Lords have referred to the deep public unease about this Bill. Even today, I have received another 20 or so e-mails, from people I do not know, bringing this point to my attention. We must not leave the rest of the population with the impression that a human embryo has no higher status than a fruit fly. That, I am afraid, is what we are in danger of doing with this Bill. Including the Hunt test in the Bill would give some assurance to the public that their concerns had been acknowledged. The amendment is an opportunity for this House to demonstrate that permission to use ethically contestable science and technology is not granted lightly. I hope that the Minister and many other noble Lords will endorse the very reasonable proposal advanced by Amendment No. 21.