§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) during which month the Minister for Health will respond to the 1998 Review by Professor Sheila McLean of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; [126779]
(2) if he will make a statement on the issue of retrospectivity of child birth registration raised in the 1998 review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 by Professor Sheila McLean; [127431]
(3) if he will make a statement on the issue of inheritance as raised in the review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 by Professor Sheila McLean. [128774]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answers 19 June and 23 June 2000]: Professor Sheila McLean made a number of recommendations about consent issues under the common law for the removal of human gametes (sperm and eggs) and the consent provisions in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 for their storage and use. The McLean report did not recommend making child birth registering retrospective. The report recommended that the law of succession should not be amended to secure succession rights for children born
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Agenda item Issue UK position Outcome 1. Approval of provisional agenda — — — 2. Approval of "A" points — — — 3. Proposal for a Directive on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products (recast) To agree a revised text on a proposal for a Directive regarding the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products. The Directive consolidates and strengthens three previous directives. It would reduce tar and nicotine yields and introduce a new maximum carbon monoxide yield for all cigarettes manufactured in the EU; increase the size of health warnings and toughen them; ban misleading descriptions such as "light" and "mild"; and require and publicise information on additives The UK supports the revised text Commissioner Byrne outlined the proposal and a compromise text, containing the European Parliament's amendments, was tabled. Common position was reached despite Germany voting against and Austria, Spain and Luxembourg abstaining 4. Communication from the Commission on the health strategy of the European Community and Proposal for a Decision adopting a programme of community action in the field of public health (2001–06) To receive a Communication on the health strategy. This includes a proposal for a public health action programme which will be subject to the co-decision procedure and will be negotiated by the Council and the Parliament in the autumn The UK broadly welcomes the proposals but with the caveat that they should enhance our national efforts and focus on areas where Community action can bring genuine added value, without straying into areas where the Community has no competence Commissioner Byrne presented the Communication and there was an initial exchange of views between member states, with general approval of the overall direction 5. Follow up to the Evora Conference on health determinants To adopt a Resolution on action on health determinants The UK supports the Resolution The Resolution was adopted 6. Follow up to the Lisbon Conference on medicinal products and public health To adopt Conclusions on medicinal products and public health The UK supports the Conclusions The Conclusions were adopted after the death of the sperm provider. We will make an announcement on the Government's response to the McLean report in August.