THE government was last night under pressure over its refusal to give a free vote on the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
Ministers faced calls to explain why Labour MPs were given free votes on just three aspects of the legislation – whether a baby should have a father, hybrid human-animal embryos and proposals for "saviour" siblings to help sick children.
The
Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, as well as other opposition parties, have allowed a free vote on the entire bill.
Kenneth Clarke, the former Tory health secretary who introduced the 1990 bill, questioned Labour's decision to whip MPs for the second and third reading votes.
When the earlier legislation was passed, he said, "every member of the House was given a free vote on all issues they perceived to be ethical at any stage – including ministers".
Ministers sidestepped the criticism to emphasise the scientific benefits of the bill.
At the second reading of the Bill yesterday, Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary, said the use of hybrid embryos was "recognised by scientists across the world as an essential building block for establishing cures for life-threatening diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's".
The debate is expected to intensify next week when MPs vote on amendments to the bill, such as lowering the abortion time limits.
The full article contains 228 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
