Clause 29 - Prohibition of commercial dealings in human material
Human Tissue Bill
4:30 pm
Dr Stephen Ladyman (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health; South Thanet, Labour)
This is commonly known as the tooth fairy amendment. Teeth have value in research and education, so it is appropriate that they are covered in the Bill. However, I can give the hon. Gentleman, and any other Committee members with children, confidence that we do not intend to use the Bill to prosecute the tooth fairy. Members of the Government will not be hiding outside bedrooms to ensure that no inappropriate activities with teeth take place. The only thing I would encourage the Human Tissue Authority to consider is including teeth in good practice guidance, so that my daughter will not be able
to insist on getting enough money from the tooth fairy to buy an S Club 7 CD every time she loses one of her milk teeth.
It is right that teeth are included in the Bill. I ask the hon. Gentleman to withdraw his amendment.