§ '(1) The court may make an order providing for a child to be treated in law as the child of the parties to a marriage (referred to in this section as "the husband" and "the wife") if—
- (a) the child has been carried by a woman other than the wife as the result of the placing in her of an embryo or sperm and eggs or her artificial insemination,
- (b) the gametes of the husband or the wife, or both, were used to bring about the creation of the embryo, and
- (c) the conditions in subsections (2) to (7) below are satisfied.
§ (2) The husband and the wife must apply for the order within six months of the birth of the child.
§ (3) At the time of the application and of the making of the order—
- (a) the child's home must be with the husband and the wife, and
- (b) the husband or the wife, or both of them, must be domiciled in a part of the United Kingdom or in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
§ (4) At the time of the making of the order both the husband and the wife must have attained the age of eighteen.
§ (5) The court must be satisfied that both the father of the child (including a person who is the father by virtue of section 28 of this Act), where he is not the husband, and the woman who carried the child have freely, and with full understanding of what is involved, agreed unconditionally to the making of the order.
§ (6) Subsection (5) above does not require the agreement of a person who cannot be found or is incapable of giving agreement and the agreement of the woman who carried the child is ineffective for the purposes of that subsection if given by her less than six weeks after the child's birth.
§ (7) The court must be satisfied that no money or other benefit (other than for expenses reasonably incurred) has been given or received by the husband or the wife for or in consideration of—
- (a) the making of the order,
- (b) any agreement required by subsection (5) above,
- (c) the handing over of the child to the husband and the wife, or
- (d) the making of any arrangements with a view to the making of the order, unless authorised by the court.
§ (8) For the purposes of an application under this section—
- (a) in relation to England and Wales, section 92(7) to (10) of, and Part I of Schedule 11 to, the Children Act 1989 (jurisdiction of courts) shall apply for the purposes of this section to determine the meaning of "the court" as they apply for the purposes of that Act and proceedings on the application shall be "family proceedings" for the purposes of that Act,
- (b) in relation to Scotland, "the court" means the Court of Session or the sheriff court of the sheriffdom within which the child is, and
- (c) in relation to Northern Ireland, "the court" means the High Court or any county court within whose division the child is.
§ (9) Regulations may provide—
- (a) for any provision of the enactments about adoption to have effect, with such modifications (if any) as may be specified in the regulations, in relation to orders under this section, and applications for such orders, as it has effect in relation to adoption, and applications for adoption orders, and
- (b) for references in any enactment to adoption, an adopted child or an adoptive relationship to be read (respectively) as references to the effect of an order under this section, a child to whom such an order applies and a relationship arising by virtue of the enactments about adoption, as applied by the regulations, and for similar expressions in connection with adoption to be read accordingly,
§ (10) In this section "the enactments about adoption" means the Adoption Act 1976, the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 and the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.
§ (11) Subsection (1)(a) above applies whether the woman was in the United Kingdom or elsewhere at the time of the placing in her of the embryo or the sperm and eggs or her artificial insemination.'.—[Mr. Kenneth Clarke.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
§ Motion made, and Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:—
§ The House divided: Ayes 231, Noes 130.
1044| Division No. 243] | [11.28 pm |
| AYES | |
| Adley, Robert | Carlile, Alex (Mont'g) |
| Aitken, Jonathan | Carlisle, John, (Luton N) |
| Alison, Rt Hon Michael | Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln) |
| Allason, Rupert | Carrington, Matthew |
| Amess, David | Cartwright, John |
| Amos, Alan | Chalker, Rt Hon Mrs Lynda |
| Arbuthnot, James | Channon, Rt Hon Paul |
| Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham) | Chapman, Sydney |
| Arnold, Tom (Hazel Grove) | Chope, Christopher |
| Ashby, David | Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford) |
| Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy | Clark, Sir W. (Croydon S) |
| Atkins, Robert | Clarke, Rt Hon K. (Rushcliffe) |
| Baker, Nicholas (Dorset N) | Coombs, Anthony (Wyre F'rest) |
| Baldry, Tony | Couchman, James |
| Barnes, Mrs Rosie (Greenwich) | Cunliffe, Lawrence |
| Batiste, Spencer | Currie, Mrs Edwina |
| Beaumont-Dark, Anthony | Curry, David |
| Beggs, Roy | Davies, Q. (Stamf'd & Spald'g) |
| Bennett, Nicholas (Pembroke) | Davis, David (Boothferry) |
| Benyon, W. | Day, Stephen |
| Blackburn, Dr John G. | Devlin, Tim |
| Boscawen, Hon Robert | Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James |
| Boswell, Tim | Dover, Den |
| Bottomley, Mrs Virginia | Dunn, Bob |
| Bowden, A (Brighton K'pto'n) | Durant, Tony |
| Bowis, John | Eggar, Tim |
| Boyson, Rt Hon Dr Sir Rhodes | Fallon, Michael |
| Braine, Rt Hon Sir Bernard | Favell, Tony |
| Brandon-Bravo, Martin | Fearn, Ronald |
| Brazier, Julian | Fishburn, John Dudley |
| Bright, Graham | Forman, Nigel |
| Brooke, Rt Hon Peter | Forsyth, Michael (Stirling) |
| Brown, Michael (Brigg & Cl't's) | Forsythe, Clifford (Antrim S) |
| Bruce, Ian (Dorset South) | Forth, Eric |
| Bruce, Malcolm (Gordon) | Fox, Sir Marcus |
| Budgen, Nicholas | Franks, Cecil |
| Burns, Simon | Freeman, Roger |
| Burt, Alistair | French, Douglas |
| Butcher, John | Gale, Roger |
| Butterfill, John | Gardiner, George |
| Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE) | Garel-Jones, Tristan |
| Gill, Christopher | Monro, Sir Hector |
| Gilmour, Rt Hon Sir Ian | Morris, M (N'hampton S) |
| Glyn, Dr Sir Alan | Morrison, Sir Charles |
| Goodlad, Alastair | Moss, Malcolm |
| Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles | Moynihan, Hon Colin |
| Greenway, Harry (Ealing N) | Mudd, David |
| Greenway, John (Ryedale) | Nelson, Anthony |
| Gregory, Conal | Neubert, Michael |
| Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth N) | Newton, Rt Hon Tony |
| Ground, Patrick | Nicholls, Patrick |
| Grylls, Michael | Nicholson, David (Taunton) |
| Gummer, Rt Hon John Selwyn | Norris, Steve |
| Hague, William | Page, Richard |
| Hamilton, Hon Archie (Epsom) | Paice, James |
| Hamilton, Neil (Tatton) | Pattie, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey |
| Hanley, Jeremy | Pawsey, James |
| Hannam, John | Peacock, Mrs Elizabeth |
| Hargreaves, A. (B'ham H'll Gr') | Porter, David (Waveney) |
| Hargreaves, Ken (Hyndburn) | Raison, Rt Hon Timothy |
| Harris, David | Rathbone, Tim |
| Haselhurst, Alan | Renton, Rt Hon Tim |
| Hayward, Robert | Riddick, Graham |
| Hicks, Mrs Maureen (Wolv' NE) | Ridley, Rt Hon Nicholas |
| Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L. | Roberts, Wyn (Conwy) |
| Hill, James | Ross, William (Londonderry E) |
| Hind, Kenneth | Rowe, Andrew |
| Hordern, Sir Peter | Ryder, Richard |
| Howard, Rt Hon Michael | Sackville, Hon Tom |
| Howarth, Alan (Strat'd-on-A) | Shaw, David (Dover) |
| Howarth, G. (Cannock & B'wd) | Shaw, Sir Giles (Pudsey) |
| Howe, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey | Shaw, Sir Michael (Scarb') |
| Howell, Rt Hon David (G'dford) | Shelton, Sir William |
| Howell, Ralph (North Norfolk) | Shephard, Mrs G. (Norfolk SW) |
| Hughes, Simon (Southwark) | Shepherd, Colin (Hereford) |
| Hunt, David (Wirral W) | Skeet, Sir Trevor |
| Hunt, Sir John (Ravensbourne) | Smith, Sir Dudley (Warwick) |
| Hunter, Andrew | Spicer, Sir Jim (Dorset W) |
| Irvine, Michael | Squire, Robin |
| Jack, Michael | Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John |
| Jackson, Robert | Steel, Rt Hon Sir David |
| Janman, Tim | Stevens, Lewis |
| Jessel, Toby | Stokes, Sir John |
| Johnston, Sir Russell | Stradling Thomas, Sir John |
| Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N) | Sumberg, David |
| Jones, Robert B (Herts W) | Summerson, Hugo |
| Jopling, Rt Hon Michael | Taylor, Ian (Esher) |
| Kennedy, Charles | Taylor, John M (Solihull) |
| Key, Robert | Taylor, Matthew (Truro) |
| Kilfedder, James | Thompson, D. (Calder Valley) |
| King, Roger (B'ham N'thfield) | Thompson, Patrick (Norwich N) |
| King, Rt Hon Tom (Bridgwater) | Thurnham, Peter |
| Kirkwood, Archy | Townend, John (Bridlington) |
| Knight, Greg (Derby North) | Tracey, Richard |
| Knox, David | Trimble, David |
| Lawrence, Ivan | Trippier, David |
| Leigh, Edward (Gainsbor'gh) | Trotter, Neville |
| Lightbown, David | Twinn, Dr Ian |
| Lilley, Peter | Vaughan, Sir Gerard |
| Livsey, Richard | Waddington, Rt Hon David |
| Lloyd, Peter (Fareham) | Walker, Bill (T'side North) |
| Luce, Rt Hon Richard | Wallace, James |
| Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas | Waller, Gary |
| Maclean, David | Wardle, Charles (Bexhill) |
| Maclennan, Robert | Wells, Bowen |
| McLoughlin, Patrick | Wheeler, Sir John |
| Maginnis, Ken | Widdecombe, Ann |
| Marland, Paul | Wiggin, Jerry |
| Martin, David (Portsmouth S) | Wilkinson, John |
| Martin, Michael J. (Springburn) | Wilshire, David |
| Mates, Michael | Woodcock, Dr. Mike |
| Meyer, Sir Anthony | Yeo, Tim |
| Michie, Mrs Ray (Arg'l & Bute) | Young, Sir George (Acton) |
| Miller, Sir Hal | |
| Miscampbell, Norman | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling) | Mr. Irvine Patrick and Mr. Timothy Wood. |
| Mitchell, Sir David | |
| Molyneaux, Rt Hon James |
| NOES | |
| Abbott, Ms Diane | Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) |
| Allen, Graham | Hughes, Roy (Newport E) |
| Armstrong, Hilary | Illsley, Eric |
| Ashton, Joe | Ingram, Adam |
| Banks, Tony (Newham NW) | Jones, Barry (Alyn & Deeside) |
| Barnes, Harry (Derbyshire NE) | Jones, Ieuan (Ynys Môn) |
| Barron, Kevin | Jones, Martyn (Clwyd S W) |
| Beckett, Margaret | Kinnock, Rt Hon Neil |
| Beith, A. J. | Lambie, David |
| Blunkett, David | Lestor, Joan (Eccles) |
| Boyes, Roland | Lewis, Terry |
| Bradley, Keith | Litherland, Robert |
| Brown, Gordon (D'mline E) | Livingstone, Ken |
| Brown, Nicholas (Newcastle E) | Lloyd, Tony (Stretford) |
| Brown, Ron (Edinburgh Leith) | Loyden, Eddie |
| Buckley, George J. | McAllion, John |
| Caborn, Richard | McKay, Allen (Barnsley West) |
| Callaghan, Jim | McKelvey, William |
| Carr, Michael | Mahon, Mrs Alice |
| Clark, Dr David (S Shields) | Marek, Dr John |
| Clay, Bob | Martlew, Eric |
| Clwyd, Mrs Ann | Meacher, Michael |
| Cohen, Harry | Meale, Alan |
| Coleman, Donald | Moonie, Dr Lewis |
| Cook, Frank (Stockton N) | Morley, Elliot |
| Cook, Robin (Livingston) | Mowlam, Marjorie |
| Corbyn, Jeremy | Mullin, Chris |
| Cousins, Jim | Nellist, Dave |
| Cox, Tom | Orme, Rt Hon Stanley |
| Cryer, Bob | Patchett, Terry |
| Dalyell, Tam | Pike, Peter L. |
| Darling, Alistair | Powell, Ray (Ogmore) |
| Davies, Ron (Caerphilly) | Prescott, John |
| Davis, Terry (B'ham Hodge H'l) | Primarolo, Dawn |
| Dixon, Don | Quin, Ms Joyce |
| Dobson, Frank | Redmond, Martin |
| Dunnachie, Jimmy | Reid, Dr John |
| Dunwoody, Hon Mrs Gwyneth | Richardson, Jo |
| Eastham, Ken | Rogers, Allan |
| Evans, John (St Helens N) | Ruddock, Joan |
| Ewing, Harry (Falkirk E) | Sedgemore, Brian |
| Ewing, Mrs Margaret (Moray) | Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert |
| Field, Frank (Birkenhead) | Short, Clare |
| Fields, Terry (L'pool B G'n) | Skinner, Dennis |
| Fisher, Mark | Smith, Andrew (Oxford E) |
| Flannery, Martin | Smith, C. (Isl'ton & F'bury) |
| Flynn, Paul | Snape, Peter |
| Foot, Rt Hon Michael | Steinberg, Gerry |
| Foster, Derek | Strang, Gavin |
| Fraser, John | Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury) |
| Fyfe, Maria | Thomas, Dr Dafydd Elis |
| Garrett, John (Norwich South) | Vaz, Keith |
| George, Bruce | Walley, Joan |
| Godman, Dr Norman A. | Wardell, Gareth (Gower) |
| Golding, Mrs Llin | Wareing, Robert N. |
| Graham, Thomas | Warren, Kenneth |
| Griffiths, Win (Bridgend) | Watson, Mike (Glasgow, C) |
| Hardy, Peter | Welsh, Andrew (Angus E) |
| Harman, Ms Harriet | Welsh, Michael (Doncaater N) |
| Haynes, Frank | Wigley, Dafydd |
| Heal, Mrs Sylvia | Williams, Rt Hon Alan |
| Hinchliffe, David | Williams, Alan W. (Carm'then) |
| Hood, Jimmy | Winnick, David |
| Howarth, George (Knowsley N) | |
| Howells, Geraint | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Howells, Dr. Kim (Pontypridd) | Mr. Frank Doran and Mrs. Teresa Gorman. |
| Hoyle, Doug | |
| Hughes, John (Coventry NE) |
§ Question accordingly agreed to.
§ Clause read a Second time.
§
Amendment made: (a), in line 10, at end insert
'or in the case of a child born before the coming into force of this Act, within six months of such coming into force.'.—[Mr. Kenneth Clarke.]
§ Clause, as amended, added to the Bill.