Report Stage

Report stage of the HFE Bill is due to start in the Commons on 14th July.

Committe Stage Ends Early

The Committee Stage of the HFE Bill was due to finish by Tuesday 17th June. It actually concluded it business early on 12th June. The Bill will now proceed to Report Stage in the Commons.
Full Hansard for the Committee sittings can be found here:

8th sitting
12 June 2008 (afternoon)

7th sitting
12 June 2008 (morning)

6th [...]

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill Committee Debates

The latest HFE Bill debates are availble to view here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmpbhuman.htm
Available:

Report of proceedings

 
6th sitting
10 June 2008 (afternoon)

 
5th sitting
10 June 2008 (morning)

 
4th sitting
5 June 2008 (afternoon)

 
3rd sitting
5 June 2008 (morning)

 
2nd sitting
3 June 2008 (afternoon)

 
1st sitting
3 June 2008 (morning)

HFE Bill Proceedings Committee Stage

The House of Commons Committee Proceedings from 3rd June are available here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmbills/070/pb0700603p.1-6.html

Fertility expert opposes the use of the HFEA information register for all treatments

Fertility expert, Alison Murdoch, says that there is not a need for the names of couples whose IVF treatment does not result in a pregnancy to be put on the HFEA information register.
For more information see here: Briefing on Information Register

Committee members for HFE Bill selected

Membership of the Public Bill Committee for the HFE Bill has been anounced. The Speaker has appointed Mr Roger Gale and Mr Jim Hood Chairmen of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] Committee; and the Committee of Selection has nominated seventeen Members to serve on the Committee: Dr Ian Gibson, Patrick Hall, Dr Evan Harris, [...]

Abortion limit to stay at 24 weeks

Bids to reduce the abortion limit to 22, 20, 16, or 12 weeks were rejected in the Commons yesterday. MPs voted to keep the current limit at 24 weeks.
Hansard available here: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/humanfertilisationandembryology.html

MPs reject the ‘need for a father’

Yesterday MPs voted against an amendement to the Bill which would require clinics to take into account the need for a father when providing fertility treatment.
Hansard available here: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/humanfertilisationandembryology.html

Open letter to MPs from Medical Research Organisations

Dr Mark Walport, Wellcome Trust, Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council, and Professor Martin Bobrow, Chair of the Academy of Medical Sciences Working Group on ‘Inter-species Embryos urge MP’s to reject amendments to the Bill which ban research on ‘hybrid’ embryos.
For more information see here: Open letter to MPs
 

Scientists and Bishops meet to discuss ethics of embryonic stem cell research

Scientists, ethicists, heads of medical charities and religious leaders met on Friday evening (16 May) at the Wellcome Collection in London to discuss the Human Embryology and Fertilisation Bill currently before parliament.
For more details see: Scientists and Bishops Meet