Clause 24 - Provision with respect to consent
Human Tissue Bill
3:30 pm
Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
I share that welcome for this group of amendments. However, I may have missed something. I wish to make a point that has only just occurred to me. I thought that I might raise it now, although I accept that it is not a big issue because it might be possible to answer it immediately by directing me to the right place. At what age does a child or grandchild who might be quite young become old enough to qualify to give that consent? Is it the sort of consent that is referred to in the rest of the Bill—in other words, must they be capable of giving consent in the terms of the Gillick competence? If so, where is that provided for, or is there a different standard of age? I imagine that there will be sad occasions when a child is asked to give consent. I would be grateful for clarification on that.