Clause 21
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]
3:30 pm
Dawn Primarolo (Minister of State (Public Health), Department of Health; Bristol South, Labour)
To remind the hon. Gentleman, the 1990 Act prevents anyone who took part in proceedings resulting in the appeal from taking part in the appeal. That is already the case. By ensuring that the appeal is heard by different people, it reduces the potential bias and makes certain that the process is impartial. Under the 1990 Act, members of the appeals committee would not have heard the initial proceedings, although they would all be members of the authority. The new power will enable the committee to be comprised, wholly or partially, of non-authority members, thus allowing for further improvements in the impartiality of the appeals committee. For those reasons, and because of the difficulty of getting the balance that we need, careful consideration is required. With respect, if we were presumptuous and consulted on draft regulations, even though the House had not agreed we had the power to do that before the Bill received Royal Assent, that could cause confusion and difficulty. It is partly about process, but also about the difficult and complex issues that we need to take in a steady fashion.