Response to Government Proposals for revised legislation on Human Fertility & Embryology

1.40.53pm GMT Thu 14th Dec 2006

Dr Evan Harris MP, Liberal Democrat member of the Science & Technology Select committee and a member of the BMA medical ethics committee responds to today's white paper outlining the Government's proposals for revising legislation on human fertility and embryology.

Government Proposes Removal of Need for a Father

Dr Evan Harris, a long-time campaigner against the clause, said:

"The scrapping of the "need for the father" provision in the Act is welcome and overdue. It was unjustifiable, discriminatory and vindictive. It was also unsustainable in human rights and equality terms. The evidence suggests children do very well brought up by lesbian couples and solo parents, so 'Good riddance'."

In response to Caroline Flint's statement that this did not mean same sex couples would automatically get IVF treatment on the NHS, Dr Harris said:

"Despite Government denials, this will mean greater access to NHS treatment for lesbian couples and solo mothers, and there is no justifiable medical or social basis for restricting it"

Government Retains "Welfare of the Child" Provision (Para 2.23)

"I am disappointed that the Government has signalled its wish to retain the 'welfare of the child' clause since it involves discriminatory guesswork about the possible welfare of a potential child, when there are better ways of securing child welfare once they are born."