Human Embryos (Hansard, 14 December 1984)

§ Mr. Christopher Murphy (Welwyn Hatfield)
I beg to ask leave to present a petition signed by 1,000 residents of the Welwyn Hatfield constituency and neighbouring areas, who are responding to the Government's invitation to comment on the Warnock committee report via the Life organisation. My petitioners welcome the report's statement that The status of the embryo is a matter of fundamental principle which should be enshrined in legislation", and its recommendation that the embryo of the human species should be afforded protection in law.
I very much share the concerns expressed by my constituents and wish to be fully associated with this petition.

§ Mr. Robert Rhodes James (Cambridge)
I beg to ask leave to present on behalf of over 2,000 of my constituents in the city of Cambridge a petition concerning the protection of the human embryo, which concludes with the words: Wherefore your petitioners pray that the House of Commons will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure which involves purchase or sale of human embryos, the discarding of human embryos, their use as sources of transplant tissue or as subjects for research or experiment (unless this is done solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned). And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray etc. I wish to associate myself strongly in sympathy with my constituents' petition.

§ Mr. John Watts (Slough)
I beg to ask leave to present a petition on behalf of 2,500 of my constituents in Slough. 1320 It is in similar terms to those presented by my hon. Friends the Members for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Murphy) and for Cambridge (Mr. Rhodes James). The petition concludes: Wherefore your petitioners pray that the House of Commons will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure which involves purchase or sale of human embryos, the discarding of human embryos, their use as sources of transplant tissue or as subjects for research or experiment (unless this is done solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned). And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray etc.
When I was lucky enough to catch your eye, Mr. Speaker, in the recent debate in the House on the Warnock report, I made it clear that I support fully the sentiments expressed in the petition.

§ Mr. Tony Speller (Devon, North)
I beg to ask leave to present a petition about the protection of the human embryo. I associate myself strongly with the terms of the petition, the final paragraph of which reads: Wherefore your petitioners pray that the House of Commons will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure which involves purchase or sale of human embryos, the discarding of human embryos, their use as sources of transplant tissue or as subjects for research or experiment (unless this is done solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned). And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray etc.

§ Mr. A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed)
I beg to ask leave to present a petition on the protection of the human embryo in the same terms as those already presented.
My petition is signed by 1,635 residents in and around the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency. The petitioners refer to the statement in the Warnock report: The status of the embryo is a matter of fundamental principle which should be enshrined in legislation". My petitioners seek legislation in the terms already described to give the human embryo that protection.
It is my hope that such legislation will be before the House in this Session and that I shall be able to sponsor and support it.

§ Sir Anthony Grant (Cambridgeshire, South-West)
I beg to ask leave to present a petition on behalf of a large number of my constituents in south-west Cambridgeshire with which I agree and in which my constituents pray that the House of Commons will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure which involves purchase or sale of human embryos, the discarding of human embryos, their use as sources of transplant tissue or as subjects for research or experiment (unless this is done solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned). And your petitioners, as in duly bound, will every pray etc.
The famous Bourn Hall clinic is in my constituency. It is known throughout the world. About 300 babies have been born there as a result of fertilisation in vitro to men and women who otherwise would have had no chance of having their own children. Work is done there to avert the birth of abnormal babies through inherited defects. That work does not always receive the attention that it deserves. The Bourn Hall clinic welcomes the Warnock report and agrees that the embryo of the human species should be protected by law, as do I and my petitioners.

§ Mr. Roger Gale (Thanet, North)
I beg to ask leave to present two petitions relating to the Warnock report on behalf of a large number of my constituents in Cliftonville, 1321 Margate, Whitbrook, Herne Bay and Herne village. The petition was collected by Mrs. J. Kruger of Margate, and Mrs. Joyce Thompson of Herne Bay.
The petitions are similar to those already presented. I draw attention particularly to the phrase in the petition: The status of the embryo is a matter of fundamental principle which should be enshrined in legislation. The petition also recommends that the embryo of the human species should be afforded protection in law. That has my full support.

§ Mr. William Cash (Stafford)
I beg to ask leave to present a petition signed by residents of the Stafford constituency in response to the Government's request for comments on the Warnock report. I totally agree with the contents of the petition, as I said in the debate on the Warnock report. The petition prays that the House of Commons will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any proceeding which involves purchase or sale of human embryos, the discarding of human embryos, their use as sources of transplant tissue or as subjects for research or experiment (unless this is done solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned). And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will every pray etc.

§ Mr. Harry Greenway (Ealing, North)
I beg to ask leave to present five petitions on the protection of the human embryo in the names of Mary B. Barry of 36 Highview road, Ealing, W13, and 1,213 of my constituents, Julie and Carole Taylor of 35 Jubilee road, Perivale, Greenford which contains a large number of signatures, J. J. Bateson of 104 Barnmouth avenue, Perivale which contains many signatures, Mrs. and Miss Meakins of 64 Greenford avenue, W7, Pastor Stephen Bickley of the International Presbyterian church, Drayton Green, Ealing, W13, and Mr. Clive Bishop of 43 Eastmead avenue, Greenford, of the Knights of St. Columba, St. John Fisher church, Perivale.
I have spoken in the House previously but briefly saying that life is sacred, being in the image of God, from the moment of conception and therefore should not in any 1322 circumstances be violated by man. I therefore associate myself strongly with my constituents whose petition states: Wherefore your petitioners pray that the House of Commons will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure which involves purchase or sale of human embryos, the discarding of human embryos, their use as sources of transplant tissue or as subjects for research or experiment (unless this is done solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned). And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will every pray etc.
I hope for early legislation along those lines.