§ Mr. James Kilfedder (North Down)I want to present a petition on behalf of the Rev. Hilary Armstrong, the parish priest of St. Comgall's church in Bangor. The petition has been signed by the members of his congregation and reads:
We affirm that the newly-fertilised human embryo is a real living being.Therefore we welcome the statement in the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Human Fertilisation and Embryology…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 (a)forbids any procedure that involves purchase or sale of human embryos, the discarding or freezing 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 (b)forbids all forms of trans-species fertilisation.My constituents hope that the House will reconsider its attitude to embryo research and pray that this petition is heeded.
§ To lie upon the Table.