Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill — Fertility treatment requires father and mother — rejected — 20 May 2008 at 18:30

The majority of MPs voted against requiring the need for both a father and a mother to be considered when taking account of the welfare of a child who may be born as a result of fertility treatment. Instead, the law will stipulate the need for "supportive parenting".

The current text in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 says:^[1]

• A woman shall not be provided with treatment services unless account has been taken of the welfare of any child who may be born as a result of the treatment (including the need of that child for a father), and of any other child who may be affected by the birth.

The new Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill under discussion will substitute "a father" for "supportive parenting".^[2]

The vote, which was lost, would have instead changed "a father" to "a father and a mother" as it was written in the 1990 law.^[3]

• [1] Conditions of licences for treatment, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, Clause 13(5)
• [2] Conditions of licences for treatment, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, Clause 14(2)(b), 6 February 2008
• [3] Iain Duncan Smith MP, House of Commons, 20 May 2008

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