§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to bring forward the necessary measures to implement the conscience clause of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI announced on 14 February that a commencement order will be laid which will enable the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to assume its full powers on 1 August 1991. The commencement order will bring section 38 (conscientious objection) of the Act into force at the same time.
§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement giving details of the proposed timetable for the implementation of the different sections of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyA commencement order and regulations relating to the termination of pregnancy (section 37 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act) will be laid shortly. A commencement order and regulations necessary to enable the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to function fully from 1 August 1991 will be brought forward later this year. The implementation of secton 30 of the Act (to facilitate parental orders where a surrogate mother is involved) depends on certain sections of the Children Act 1989 which are expected to come into force in the autumn of this year.
§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he will respond to the 10th report of Session 1989–90 of the Social Services Committee on the working of the conscience clause of the Abortion Act—House of Commons Paper No. 123;
241W(2) what action he has taken to ensure that candidates for medical school are no longer asked their views on abortion.
242W
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe are carefully considering the committee's report and will be publishing our response shortly.