§ Mr. Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby)I beg to ask leave to present a petition about the protection of the human embryo arising from the report of the Warnock committee. It 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 constituency of Great Grimsby showeth that we 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 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 proceedure 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 etc.The petition is signed by Father John Maloney of St. Pius Church, Chelmsford avenue, Grimsby. Associated with it are 452 petitioners. It expresses a widespread concern and touches upon a fundamental moral problem. It is worthy of the deepest, most serious consideration by this honourable House. I have the honour to present the petition on behalf of my constituents.
§ To lie upon the Table.