Jim Dobbin: As a former NHS scientist, I would like to speak in support of the motion proposed by the hon. Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce). Whatever our personal views on the ethics of mitochondrial transfer, it is remarkable from a procedural point of view that the Government are considering putting these regulations before the House before the critical pre-clinical tests by their own body, the...
Jim Dobbin: I understand the hon. Gentleman’s point, but may I refer him to Dr David King, director of Human Genetics Alert? He is sympathetic to this process but fears that science is racing ahead of ethics. He says that we are in danger of creating designer eugenic babies, and we do not know where we are going in future. Denying Parliament the opportunity to examine these results seems difficult to...
Jim Dobbin: I cannot take that decision. I am chairing this debate, that is all, so it is not a matter for me.
Jim Dobbin: Before the hon. Lady intervenes, I clarify that interventions are acceptable with the agreement of the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Shabana Mahmood) but speeches are not acceptable unless the hon. Lady and the Minister have agreed. The Chairman should also be informed.
Jim Dobbin: Order. Interventions are meant to be short.
Jim Dobbin: Order. You have one minute left for your speech.
Jim Dobbin: Order.
Jim Dobbin: The Lanzarote convention sets a Europe-wide standard for the protection of children against sexual exploitation. The UK has signed it but not yet ratified it. Following recent episodes of grooming in the UK, including in my borough of Rochdale, will the Government now consider ratifying that very important convention?
Jim Dobbin: I call the Minister to speak in her second debate this afternoon.
Jim Dobbin: Three Members still wish to speak, and we have 25 minutes until I call the shadow Minister.
Jim Dobbin: I give notice that I intend to call the shadow Minister at 20 minutes to 4.
Jim Dobbin: The head of the United States Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on this matter, Evan Snyder, has said that there are not enough clinical data to suggest that mitochondrial transfer is safe. Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the present UK regulator and the UK Government should be cautious in approaching this technique?
Jim Dobbin: I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require the Secretary of State to ensure that each Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has at least one board member who is a co-operative or social enterprise business specialist, and that LEP plans make specific reference to development of co-operatives and social enterprises; and for connected purposes. As both a Labour and a...
Jim Dobbin: Order. I remind hon. Members that interventions should be short.
Jim Dobbin: Order. Interventions should be short.
Jim Dobbin: Before I call the hon. Member for Worthing West (Sir Peter Bottomley) to speak, I want to inquire whether he has permission to do so from the Member who secured the debate.
Jim Dobbin: Thank you.
Jim Dobbin: I have enjoyed the debate very much. In a former life, I worked in an infectious diseases hospital, specialising in TB.
Jim Dobbin: We have five speakers left, and I intend to call the shadow Minister at 3.40 pm.
Jim Dobbin: Order. I suggest that when we have interventions, we have short interventions.