§ Mr. Simon Hughes (Southwark and Bermondsey)I beg leave to present, on behalf of nearly 1,500 residents of my constituency and neighbouring areas, a petition for the protection of the human embryo. It was presented to me recently at one of my advice centres by a large number of the people whose names are appended to it. It is signed by many of my constituents, including many people associated with local churches and with hospitals, including Guy's hospital, and many personal friends of mine.
The petitioners affirm their belief that the newly fertilised human embryo is a real, living, individual human being. They oppose all practices that discriminate against the embryo and violate his or her human dignity and right to life.
I know that this petition is one of many, and that all the petitioners are looking forward to the debate on the subject that will take place at the end of the week. Therefore, the petition is presented at an especially opportune time.
The petition ends:
Wherefore Your Petitioners Pray that the House of Commons will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure that 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 … And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.