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 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)

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, Dr Brian Iddon, Helen Jones, Robert Key, Steve McCabe, Chris McCafferty, Laura Moffatt, Julie Morgan, Mike Penning, Dawn Primarolo, Dr John Pugh, Mark Simmonds, Mr Gary Streeter, Dr Desmond Turner and Jeremy Wright.

More can be found in Appendix II here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmvote/80520v01.htm

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

More debate today in Parliament

The Committee of the Whole House will debate more amendments to the HFE Bill in Parliament today. The need for a father and the abortion amendments will be debated.

MPs reject amendments that would ban ‘hybrid’ embryo research

Last night MP’s rejected amaendments to the Bill that would ban hybrid embryo research. Hansard is available here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080519/debtext/80519-0004.htm#08051912000001