Clause 30 - Restriction on transplants involving a live donor
Human Tissue Bill
9:10 am
Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest, Independent)
I beg to move amendment No. 56, in
clause 30, page 20, line 41, leave out from 'shall' to end of line 45 and add—
'(a) set out the circumstances in which decisions of the Authority in relation to matters which fall to be decided by it under the regulations shall be subject to reconsideration, and
(b) prescribe the procedure to be followed for such reconsideration.'.
I regret that we did not reach this clause on Tuesday because the Ministers were in such a mood of generosity and kindness that I would like to have moved the amendment then. It is simply a drafting amendment. The Under-Secretary talked about darkness descending upon him. Well, every time I look at the wording of the clause, darkness descends on me. I am sure that the Ministers were not responsible for its wording, so I can be very rude about it. The word ''regulations'' is used four times; the phrase ''regulations may provide'' is used twice; and phrases such as ''subject to'' and ''in accordance with'' are also included. Even a child at school would know that the same words and phrases should not be used time and again. Assuming that the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) and I, and the staff of the House who helped us draft the amendment, have understood the clause correctly—I am still in doubt about that—is not our wording easier to understand and less opaque?
I finish with the advice of a Chinese philosopher, Chang Tzu, writing in 300 BC. I cannot resist reading a bit more than I need because the oriental imagery is so marvellous. He wrote:
''The sage has the sun and moon by his side. He grasps the universe under the arm. He blends everything into a harmonious whole and casts aside whatever is confused or obscured''.