Clause 21
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]
3:30 pm
Mark Simmonds (Shadow Minister, Health; Boston and Skegness, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 148, in clause 21, page 17, line 2, leave out from ‘wholly’ to ‘and’ in line 3 and insert
‘of persons who were not members of the initial grant, revocation or variation committee.’.
I hope the Minister will confirm that the amendment is not necessary, and that what it proposes already happens in practice. Clearly, however, it is important that those who were involved in an original decision are not also involved in the appeals process. It is certainly important that the appeals process is not only seen to be fair and independent, but is fair and independent, and that there are therefore no prejudices that might have been instilled through the original process.
We have discussed this before. There are, however, concerns surrounding conflict of interest on the licensing committee, and having an entirely new appeals committee mandated in the Bill would prevent such an incidence occurring, and in particular prevent it from occurring again.