§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now seek to amend the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985 so as to ban all commercial surrogacy arrangements, following the ruling in a case at Salford Crown court that surrogate twins should remain with their natural mother; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonThe consultation document "Legislation on Human Infertility Services and Embryo Research" invites views by the end of June on a number of surrogacy issues. These will be taken into account in the legislation we intend to introduce in the next Parliament.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will call for reports from the chairmen of each regional health authority as to the number of surrogate births which has taken place in National Health Service hospitals; if he will list each such birth according to when and where it is recorded as having taken place; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonNo. Unless the expectant mother drew the attention of the hospital to the precise circumstances of her pregnancy, a health authority would not be able to identify surrogate mothers.