§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the Government have not signed the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine. [162705]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 22 March 2004]: The convention covers a wide range of complex ethical and legal issues where United Kingdom domestic policy is still to be resolved following consultations. These matters will need to be concluded before the Government are in a position to consider signing and ratifying the convention.