(Except clauses 4, 11, 14 and 23, schedule 2, and any new clauses or new schedules relating to the termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioners)
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]
10:30 am
Mark Simmonds (Shadow Minister, Health; Boston and Skegness, Conservative)
I join the Minister in saying how pleased I am to see you in the Chair, Mr. Gale. I look forward to working under your guidance and that of Mr Hood during the passage of this Bill. You will be aware of the view of the Opposition that this Bill deserves completely free votes, and therefore there will be free votes for Conservative Members in all Divisions in Committee. It is a shame that the Government do not have the same policy.
I acknowledge the points that the Minister made about the very thorough and detailed pre-legislative scrutiny that took place prior to the introduction of this Bill. There was full debate and discussion, and many hon. Members who took part in that scrutiny are members of the Public Bill Committee, which is to be welcomed. We all look forward to benefiting from their expertise and experience in this area.
May I thank the Minister for her kind remarks? I have been impressed by her detailed knowledge and understanding of these very complex issues, both ethically and scientifically. I hope that we can continue the constructive dialogue that we have had so far to ensure that the Bill is as good as it can be. When it passes into law, I hope that it will have as good a reputation as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and that it lasts as long as that Act, if not longer, despite many fast-moving scientific discoveries and advances.
I welcome to the Committee my hon. Friends the Members for Rugby and Kenilworth, for Hemel Hempstead, for Salisbury, and for South-West Devon, who will make their own points in their individual ways. Of course, we have a very wide range of opinions on this side of the Committee, which will become evident as the Bill progresses. I would finally like to say that there are a large number of issues in the Bill that were not debated on the Floor if the House and I hope we will discuss them in Committee. I have no problem with the programme motion.