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Anger at abortion debate timing MPs set for key embryology vote
(about 4 hours later)
MPs have begun debating the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill amid anger that Commons timetabling means amendments on abortion will be shelved. MPs are to vote on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill after a debate overshadowed by a row about the handling of abortion issues.
Several MPs expressed unhappiness that amendments relating to abortion would not be debated, one describing the government's actions as "shabby". MPs from all parties complained that ministers had blocked debate on changes to abortion laws, one describing the government's actions as "shabby".
Health minister Dawn Primarolo said the debate would cover issues of "profound importance" such as embryo research. But health minister Dawn Primarolo said issues of "profound importance" such as embryo research had been addressed.
Campaigners on both sides of the debate are said to be angry at the timetable. The bill would cause the biggest shake-up of embryology laws for 20 years.
'Concern' MPs will vote on a range of issues including the growing and harvesting of "hybrid embryos" for stem cells, and using "saviour siblings" to provide bone marrow or umbilical cord tissue to help a brother or sister with a genetic condition.
MPs overwhelmingly backed a timetabling motion allowing ministers to dictate the order in which amendments to the bill, at its third and final reading in the Commons, are debated. 'Dangerous'
Critics said this procedure would preclude debate on important issues to extend abortion rights to Northern Ireland and a measure which would cut the number of doctors needed to approve an abortion. During the debate, a handful of MPs claimed measures in the bill would leave the door open to reproductive human cloning in the future by superseding a current ban on the practice.
Tory MP Edward Leigh said confusion over such an important issue was "dangerous" but Ms Primarolo, speaking for the government, said there was a "clear prohibition" on the practice in the bill.
She added that the bill would enable research to help tackle "debilitating" genetic conditions within an "ethical framework".
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Earlier, MPs overwhelmingly backed a timetabling motion allowing ministers to dictate the order in which amendments to the bill, at its third and final reading in the Commons, are debated.
Critics said this procedure stopped debate on important issues to extend abortion rights to Northern Ireland and a measure which would cut the number of doctors needed to approve an abortion.
Labour MP Diane Abbott said the government's unwillingness to debate the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act, which legalised abortion under certain conditions, to Northern Ireland was "shabby".Labour MP Diane Abbott said the government's unwillingness to debate the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act, which legalised abortion under certain conditions, to Northern Ireland was "shabby".
It would leave women there as "second class citizens" when it came to abortion rights, she added.It would leave women there as "second class citizens" when it came to abortion rights, she added.
'Real anger'
Tory spokesman Mark Simmonds said there was "real concern and anger" within Parliament that debate on key issues would be limited.Tory spokesman Mark Simmonds said there was "real concern and anger" within Parliament that debate on key issues would be limited.
Lib Dem spokesman Norman Lamb urged the government to give a commitment to give parliamentary time to a debate on abortion laws.Lib Dem spokesman Norman Lamb urged the government to give a commitment to give parliamentary time to a debate on abortion laws.
But Labour MP Sir Gerald Kaufman defended the government's approach saying the bill was not primarily about abortion and it would be wrong to "pin" amendments on the issue on the bill at this stage.But Labour MP Sir Gerald Kaufman defended the government's approach saying the bill was not primarily about abortion and it would be wrong to "pin" amendments on the issue on the bill at this stage.
And the Democratic Unionists said the "sensitive" issue of abortion rights in Northern Ireland should ultimately be decided by the Northern Ireland Assembly not the Westminster Parliament.And the Democratic Unionists said the "sensitive" issue of abortion rights in Northern Ireland should ultimately be decided by the Northern Ireland Assembly not the Westminster Parliament.
DUP member Jeffrey Donaldson said all parties in Northern Ireland were united in this view and that, should the amendment be passed, it would cause "considerable problems for the political process".DUP member Jeffrey Donaldson said all parties in Northern Ireland were united in this view and that, should the amendment be passed, it would cause "considerable problems for the political process".
"There is strong opposition in Northern Ireland to that proposition," he said."There is strong opposition in Northern Ireland to that proposition," he said.
Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland except in exceptional medical circumstances, such as when the mother's health is at risk.Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland except in exceptional medical circumstances, such as when the mother's health is at risk.
It has been reported that ministers are reluctant to allow a vote on these issues given the strength of opposition among Northern Ireland MPs and fears that the House of Lords could block other proposals.It has been reported that ministers are reluctant to allow a vote on these issues given the strength of opposition among Northern Ireland MPs and fears that the House of Lords could block other proposals.
Further debateFurther debate
The BBC has learned that the government may allow Parliamentary debate time on abortion in two years' time although Ms Primarolo said there were "no plans" to introduce a bill on abortion.The BBC has learned that the government may allow Parliamentary debate time on abortion in two years' time although Ms Primarolo said there were "no plans" to introduce a bill on abortion.
Science correspondent Tom Feilden said this was aimed at placating both sides, who feel the issue must be debated more fully.Science correspondent Tom Feilden said this was aimed at placating both sides, who feel the issue must be debated more fully.
But the debate could come after the next general election, when the make-up of the Commons may have changed.But the debate could come after the next general election, when the make-up of the Commons may have changed.
If approved, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill would result in the most significant shake-up of embryology laws for 20 years.
MPs will vote on Wednesday on issues including the growing and harvesting of "hybrid embryos" for stem cells, and using "saviour siblings" to provide bone marrow or umbilical cord tissue to help a brother or sister with a genetic condition.
This is simply a device by government to deny Parliament a say on a free-vote issue and it's control freakery at its worst Evan Harris, Lib Dems
The bill's third reading had been due in July but was delayed until the autumn amid claims that the government was worried about its political impact in the run-up to the Glasgow East by-election.The bill's third reading had been due in July but was delayed until the autumn amid claims that the government was worried about its political impact in the run-up to the Glasgow East by-election.
Baroness Deech, the former chairman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, said the bill introduced important reforms to embryology research and IVF treatments and the abortion debate should not be allowed to derail it. Ministers insist the bill remains a "flagship" government measure but opposition MPs have accused it of stifling debate over issues which are "politically embarrassing".
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It would be tragic it it were to be hijacked by abortion provisions which really have nothing to do with the rest of the bill.
"It is a completely separate issue and I welcome the fact that this will be dealt with separately."
'Into line'
But Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said this would mean missing the best opportunity to debate abortion law since 1990.
She added: "There is a need to modernise the abortion law and bring it into line with medical practice and scientific evidence just as fertility treatment."
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Ministers insist the bill remains a "flagship" government measure but opposition MPs have accused it of stifling debate over issues which are "politically embarassing".
Liberal Democrat science spokesman Evan Harris said: "It seems that this is simply a device by government to deny Parliament a say on a free-vote issue and it's control freakery at its worst."
But the Alive and Kicking Alliance - an umbrella organisation of anti-abortion groups - said "a small cross-party group of MPs with extreme views had been planning to hijack the Bill" and said revision of abortion law needed "more careful consideration".
Other amendments which could be lost include a proposal that one doctor - rather than two - should have to sign their approval for an abortion.
The Commons rejected plans to lower the time limit for terminations, when Labour MPs were given a free vote on the issue in May.The Commons rejected plans to lower the time limit for terminations, when Labour MPs were given a free vote on the issue in May.