HL Deb 15 May 1973 vol 342 cc682-3

3.10 p.m.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the provision of artificial insemination by a donor is to be made available within the National Health Service, as recommended by the Panel on Human Artificial Insemination.

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, under present arrangements it is possible for human artificial insemination by husband or by donor to be obtained under the National Health Service when it is recommended on medical grounds. I am aware of the recent report of the Panel on Human Artificial Insemination but have not as yet received any recommendations concerning it. The Panel was set up by the Board of Science and Education of the British Medical Association and I understand that the report is still the subject of consultation and discussion within the Association.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. In view of the fact that Sir John Peel, the eminent gynecologist and obstetrician, was chairman of the Panel —there had been a previous report about two years ago of a different nature, but those recommendations were changed on this occasion—could the noble Lord say when we may have a statement on whether the Government are going to accept Sir John Peel's recommendations?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, it is not really a question of the Government's accepting Sir John Peel's recommendations; it is a question of whether the British Medical Association wish to accept Sir John Peel's recommendations, because Sir John Peel's Panel was set up by the B.M.A. Until the B.M.A. as a whole has given some judgment about these recommendations it would be quite inappropriate for the Government to do so.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, while I must apologise to the noble Lord for contradicting him, may I ask whether he is aware that Sir John Peel recommended that five or seven centres should be set up throughout the country? Of course, the British Medical Asociation does not set up centres. The only authority capable of setting up the centres which Sir John Peel asked for is the Government, through the National Health Service.

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, the report has not yet been adopted or in any way commented upon by the British Medical Association, who set up the Panel. Therefore, it would be quite out of order, and quite ridiculous, if I may say so with respect, for the Government to take action on recommendations of a Panel whose recommendations have not yet been considered by the body which set it up.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, am I not right in saying that if an important body of this kind asks the National Health Service to establish these particular centres, then the Government must recognise that they are the agents? Therefore it is for them to discuss these matters with the British Medical Association, which, after all, is simply an association of doctors in this country.

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords. I really do not think I can add to what I said previously.