Human Embryos (Hansard, 15 February 1985)

§ Mr. Roger Freeman (Kettering)
I beg to ask leave to present a petition, signed by Mrs. Loasby, the Rev. Paul Rose and 1,076 of my Kettering constituents. It is entitled Petition for the Protection of the Human Embryo". They affirm their belief that the newly-fertilised human embryo is a real, living individual human being. They oppose all practices that discriminate against the human embryo or violate his/her human dignity and right to life. Wherefore your petitioners pray that the House of Commons will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure that involves the 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.

§ Mr. Michael Lord (Suffolk, Central)
I beg to ask leave to present two petitions from my constituents on the subject of the treatment of human embryos, bearing together over 1,000 signatures collected by Mrs. Margaret Campbell-Preston of 1 Bishops Way, Stradbroke, Suffolk, and the Rev. Brian Toll of The Rectory, Claydon, near Ipswich. I share my constituents' deep concern, expressed in this petition. It says: Wherefore your petitioners pray that the House of Commons will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure that involves the 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.

§ Mrs. Jill Knight (Birmingham, Edgbaston)
I have the honour to beg to ask leave to present a petition from my constituents in Edgbaston, which has been signed by over 3,000 people. The wording has been passed as correct and, because of the pressure of time, I shall not repeat it. None the less, I claim that free expression, freely given, is a matter of concern to the House.

§ Mr. Norman St. John-Stevas (Chelmsford)
I have the honour to beg leave to present a petition to the House concerning the protection of the human embryo and signed by citizens from virtually every part of the United Kingdom. It represents the final batch of signatories that have come from constituencies all over the kingdom. There are now 2 million signatures, the largest number since the Chartist petitions of the 1830s and 1840s, which 634 have been collected in less than two months. The number of signatories speaks for itself and shows the deep anxieties and concern felt about the fate of the human embryo in the light of technological advances and the recommendations of the Warnock report.
The petition reads: To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of the residents of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland showeth that we affirm that the newly-fertilised human embryo is a real, living individual human being. Therefore we welcome the statement of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Human Fertilisation and Embryology (the Warnock Report) 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. And therefore we oppose all such practices as are recommended in the Report which discriminate against the embryo or violate his/her human dignity and right to life. Wherefore your petitioners pray that the House of Commons will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure that involves the 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.

§ Mr. Michael Hancock (Portsmouth, South)
I have the privilege to present two petitions to the House, one standing in the names of Mr. and Mrs. Pearce, of 27 Brookfield Road, Fratton, and several hundred constituents in Portsmouth, South, and the other in the names of the whole of St. Edmund's Roman Catholic sixth form in Portsmouth. Both petitions are the same in substance and relate to the issue before the House today.
The petitions affirm that the newly-fertilised human embryo is a real, living individual human being; therefore we welcome the statement in the Report of the Committee of Inquiry … (the Warnock Report) 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; and therefore we oppose all such practices as are recommended in the Report which discriminate against the embryo or violate his/her human dignity and right to life. 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 (unless done solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned). And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

§ Mr. David Atkinson (Bournemouth, East)
I beg to ask leave to present a petition primarily organised by Mrs. Merville Pidgeon, of 52 Castlemain Avenue, Bournemouth and the Bournemouth Life Group, signed by more than 2,000 of my constituents in Bournemouth, East, which affirms the Christian belief, which I wholly share, that life begins at conception and that human embryos must be protected in law. The petition reads: 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 and experiment… And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

§ Mr. Harry Greenway (Ealing, North)
I have the honour to present three petitions, which are similar to 635 those already presented, on behalf of my constituents in Ealing, North. They are in the names of Mr. A. S. Girling, of 13 Wynchgate, Eastcote Lane, Northolt, Mrs. S. Leahy, of 231 Can road, Northolt and Captain Roger Horsley of the Church Army, of 127 Coldershaw Road, West Ealing, London W13.
My constituents who have signed these petitions take the strong view, which I share, that life begins at conception, and that all life is made in the image of God and is therefore sacred and not to be violated in any way.
The petitions conclude: 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 solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned).

§ Dr. Brian Mawhinney (Peterborough)
I have the honour to present to the House a petition for the protection of the human embryo signed by Mr. David Soames of Atherstone Avenue, Mrs. Denise Robinson of Heltwaite Court, Bretton, and Mary McDonagh, of Axiom Avenue, all in the city of Peterborough, and signed by 654 of my constituents.
It welcomes the fact that the status of the embryo is a matter of fundamental principle which should be enshrined in legislation, and in terms it is identical to those already brought to the attention of the House by other hon. Members.
I have pleasure in presenting this petition for its contents and because it substantially represents my own view in this matter.

§ Mr. Neil Hamilton (Tatton)
I have the honour to present a petition in the names of several thousands of the 636 residents of the Tatton constituency in identical terms to that read out in such mellifluous tones by my right hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas). In view of that, I shall not rehearse its wording. I say only that I agree with it wholeheartedly.

§ Mr. J. F. Pawsey (Rugby and Kenilworth)
I beg to ask leave to present to the House two petitions from my constituents living in Rugby and Kenilworth. The first was initiated jointly by the Rev. Kahn and the Rev. Martin Greig, both of Rugby, and contains about 57 signatures. The second was organised by the Rugby Life Group and contains about 1,700 signatures.
All petitioners believe that the newly fertilised human embryo is a real, living human being and oppose any attempt to discriminate against it.
The petitions continue: 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 (unless this is done solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned). And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

§ Mr. Toby Jessel (Twickenham)
I beg to ask leave to present two petitions bearing the signatures of 2,300 of constituents in Twickenham, Teddington, the Hamptons and Whitton collected mainly by Miss Harper of Waldegrave gardens, Twickenham, praying in precisely the same terms as those already read out by hon. Members.
These petitions are presented on the day of the debate on the Unborn Children (Protection) Bill to emphasise the deep conviction that large numbers of my constituents feel that this is a moral issue, that human embryos must be protected, and in the hope that the House will decisively reject the horrible suggestions to the contrary.