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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]

On the European convention on human rights, the House is advised by the Joint Committee on Human Rights, which includes Members of the right hon. Gentleman's party. In a unanimous report, the Committee stated that ““Without justification, such distinctions””—the distinctions that he wants to put into the Bill—"““may be in breach of the right to respect for private life without discrimination””." The report continued:"““Similarly, the Convention prohibits unjustified discrimination””—" he has not shown justification for his position—"““between married and unmarried parents for the purposes of recognition of parental responsibility, or wider family law decisions on access and custody.””" The Committee went on to say that that needs to be removed in order for the provisions to comply. If the right hon. Gentleman is relying on people being able to go to the law, rather than having law that does not discriminate, I would suggest that he has got the law the wrong way round.