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Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill passed
Human Fertilisition and Embryology Bill passed
Equal access to fertility treatment given thumbs up by MPs
MPs in the House of Commons have passed new legislation allowing lesbians equal access to fertility treatment.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill will benefit lesbians and single women by giving the right to try for children without taking into account ‘the need for a father’, which is current NHS practice.
MPs voted 355 to 129 for the bill, and of the 129 sixteen were labour rebels, including former Minister of Equality Ruth Kelly who, earlier this week, we reported was predicted to vote against the bill.
Chief executive of gay rights organisation Stonewall Ben Summerskill praised the decision to pass the bill:
"We’re hugely grateful to everyone who has supported us over this issue.
"We’ve always remained calmly determined to present the credible scientific evidence that children in lesbian and gay families develop in exactly the same social and intellectual way as any others.”
The bill will now go to the House of Lords for final perusal before the law is passed.
