Clause 3
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]
12:15 pm
Evan Harris (Shadow Minister, Innovation, Universities and Skills; Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
The hon. Gentleman raises a good question that was covered in the report by the Committee that he chaired. I do not have the report to hand but, if I remember correctly, there were several grounds for arguing for a ban. One reason was ethical, another was that the practice was not possible, and another that even if it were possible, it would not be safe and could never be done ethically. Informed consent would not be given for something that was not required or necessary and did not have sufficient justification. His report laid down a challenge to politicians to come up with strong, ethical arguments against the practice—now is not the time to do that but there are many—in case there came a point where, under another jurisdiction, it was shown to be safe and effective. I do not think that we will ever get to that stage and there are good ethical arguments against it, but I will not hold up the Committee by going into them. However, the hon. Gentleman raises the good point that when we talk about a ban on reproductive cloning, we must consider all the reasons why that is not a good idea.