Clause 59
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords]
1:15 pm
Mark Simmonds (Shadow Minister, Health; Boston and Skegness, Conservative)
I am grateful for the Minister’s constructive response to my probing amendment and for her reassurance that there is to be no movement away from the principle that surrogacy is prohibited from becoming a commercial activity in this country. I am assured from what she said that the point behind the amendment is covered elsewhere in the clause.
Before I withdraw the amendment, I want to point out that I am still somewhat concerned about something. I do not suggest that non-profit organisations in the surrogacy field would do so, but I am aware that there are other non-profit organisations that are good at increasing their cost base to make sure that they do not make any profit and that they therefore come within the guidelines, but they do so while increasing their revenue streams. We certainly would not want to deter people from participation in surrogacy for financial reasons and financial purposes.