§ Mr. Patrick Nicholls (Teignbridge)I wish to present a petition to the House of Commons which has been signed and organised by the Rev. John Leonard, vicar of Kingskerswell. It has been signed by him and by about 200 of his parishioners in the parishes of Coffinswell and Kingskerswell.
The petition draws the attention of the House to three abuses of genetic processes: first, the use of eggs from aborted foetuses to induce pregnancy; secondly, the implanting of donated eggs in post-menopausal women; and thirdly, the choosing of donated eggs to determine the colour and sex of a child.
The petitioners who have signed the petition regard these practices as abhorrent—a view which I entirely share—and ask the House to take two courses of action. They ask first that steps be taken to discourage the process; and secondly, if that discouragement does not work, they call on this honourable House to enact suitable legislation.
The petition ends in the usual way.
§ To lie upon the Table.