David Burrowes MP

Conservative Party | Enfield Southgate

PRO AND ANTI EMBRYO RESEARCH MPs UNITE TO DEMAND FULL AND FREE CONSIDERATION OF EMBRYO BILL

MPs from either side of the political divide on embryo issues have united in a bid to seek free votes for all MPs on key parts of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill and for consideration by a committee of the whole House.

During the passage of the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, contentious issues of conscience, namely embryo research and Schedule 2 (dealing with research licences and the testing/screening of embryos) were debated by a Committee of the whole House, with all MPs allowed a free vote up to the final stage. This allowed for a thorough scrutiny of controversial provisions.

MPs are calling for a repeat of this procedure, particularly on the new issue of animal-human hybrids, or human admixed embryos and the screening of embryos for inherited diseases or tissue compatibility as a “saviour sibling”.

Early Day Motion 1127, tabled by David Burrowes MP, has garnered support from politicians with diverse and strongly held opinions concerning the Bill.

As opposition grows amongst politicians and the public to the Government whip on the Bill, the call is growing for full and free debate and is, it seems, uniting the House in the process.

David Burrowes MP, an opponent of embryo research, commented: “Irrespective of differing opinions on the provisions of the Bill itself, there is a common understanding that its contents are of huge ethical and moral significance and will have significant implications on a UK approach to medical research. My motivation in tabling this EDM is to draw on previous precedent to allow all MPs to engage as fully and freely as possible in the Commons. The issue is as much one of the integrity of our Parliamentary system as it is of conscience.”

Dr Evan Harris MP, a supporter of embryo research, said "Many of those on the progressive and liberal side of the House oppose the dragooning of MPs into the voting lobbies on the issue of embryo research, and we feel confident that Parliament will support carefully regulated medical research using embryos, after full and free debate just as it did in 1990 on the original Act and in 2001 when it overwhelmingly approved therapeutic cloning.”