§ 23. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement about the conditions under which medical experiments 196 may be performed on children surviving from an abortion.
§ Sir K. JosephWhere a child survives an abortion the overriding responsibility of the medical staff is to promote and preserve its life. What steps are taken to this end is a matter for the clinical discretion of the doctor concerned.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonCan my right hon. Friend tell me whether the mother's consent is sought before experimentation on live foetuses? Secondly, before the Government and Parliament come to any firm view on these matters, should there not be an opportunity of discussing Sir John Peel's report?
§ Sir K. JosephI am not aware of any experiments. If my hon. Friend cares to speak to me or let me know what he has in mind, I shall write to him or submit myself to further questioning.