Schedule 4 - Inspectorates: Boards
Human Tissue Bill
9:10 am
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 15, in
schedule 4, page 49, line 38, at end insert—
'(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) above, the Authority shall exercise its power to appoint at least one member of the Board whom it believes to be representative of the interests of the Royal College of Pathologists.'.
Various learned bodies and groups representing those engaged in medical research or, professionally, in the handling of human material have expressed concern that their experience and expertise will not be adequately reflected in the various bodies created under the Bill. We have to admit that part of that concern is altruistic; there is a genuine desire on the part of those groups to lend their experience and expertise to these bodies. There is also concern for their members and others who work in this sphere, given the potentially quite punitive nature of some of the measures. It is therefore only natural that those groups should seek to influence the bodies that will be created. The public can be assured that they would benefit from their presence and active involvement in
the inspectorates, which many of us are concerned will not be adequately informed, given the complex nature of much of the subject matter.
The amendment would specifically include representatives of the Royal College of Pathologists in the inspectorate of anatomy and pathology. It is reasonable that such people should be included, given the subject matter with which that inspectorate will be dealing. The Bill deals to a large extent with those who will be excluded from the various bodies that will be set up, but it says relatively little about those who will be included and the expertise that the bodies will have. The amendment would give the authority a steer in that respect.