§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the letter with which he circulated copies of the Polkinghorne report to health authorities made it clear that the contents of the report and its recommended code of practice had no statutory authority;
(2) why he decided to circulate to health authorities copies of the Polkinghorne report before the House had fully debated its conclusions.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Mellor) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) on 23 October 1989 at column315. Health circular (89) 23, issued in July 1989, informed health authorities of the Government's acceptance of the Polkinghorne committee's main recommendations and asked authorities to ensure that the new Polkinghorne code of practice on the use of foetuses and foetal material in research and treatment is adhered to.