---

Column 513

Pawsey, James

Pendry, Tom

Pike, Peter L.

Powell, Ray (Ogmore)

Prescott, John

Primarolo, Dawn

Quin, Ms Joyce

Radice, Giles

Randall, Stuart

Rathbone, Tim

Redmond, Martin

Rees, Rt Hon Merlyn

Reid, Dr John

Richardson, Jo

Roberts, Allan (Bootle)

Robertson, George

Robinson, Geoffrey

Robinson, Peter (Belfast E)

Rogers, Allan

Rooker, Jeff

Ross, Ernie (Dundee W)

Rowlands, Ted

Ruddock, Joan

Salmond, Alex

Sedgemore, Brian

Sheerman, Barry

Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert

Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge)

Shore, Rt Hon Peter

Short, Clare

Sillars, Jim

Skinner, Dennis

Smith, Andrew (Oxford E)

Smith, C. (Isl'ton & F'bury)

Smith, Sir Dudley (Warwick)

Smith, Rt Hon J. (Monk'ds E)

Smith, J. P. (Vale of Glam)

Smyth, Rev Martin (Belfast S)

Snape, Peter

Soley, Clive

Spearing, Nigel

Squire, Robin

Steel, Rt Hon Sir David

Steinberg, Gerry

Stott, Roger

Strang, Gavin

Straw, Jack

Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury)

Taylor, Matthew (Truro)

Temple-Morris, Peter

Thomas, Dr Dafydd Elis

Thompson, Jack (Wansbeck)

Turner, Dennis

Vaz, Keith

Wall, Pat

Wallace, James

Walley, Joan

Wardell, Gareth (Gower)

Watson, Mike (Glasgow, C)

Wells, Bowen

Welsh, Andrew (Angus E)

Welsh, Michael (Doncaster N)

Wiggin, Jerry

Williams, Rt Hon Alan

Williams, Alan W. (Carm'then)

Wilson, Brian

Winnick, David

Wise, Mrs Audrey

Worthington, Tony

Wray, Jimmy

Young, Sir George (Acton)

Tellers for the Noes :

Mrs. Llin Golding and

Mr. Ken Eastham.

Question accordingly agreed to .

Resolved ,

That the Revenue Support Grant Transition Report (England) (House of Commons Paper No. 50), a copy of which was laid before this House on 11th January, be approved.

Resolved ,

That the Special Grant Report (House of Commons Paper No. 128), a copy of which was laid before this House on 12th January, be approved.-- [Mr. Fallon.]

---

Column 514

PETITIONS

Human Embryos

10.29 pm

Mr. Conal Gregory (York) : I have great pleasure in presenting on behalf of the constituents of York a petition signed by no fewer than 1,243 people since December. I pay tribute to Mrs. Angela Brefitt and her colleagues.

The petitioners pray that the House

will take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure that involves purchase or sale of human embryos, the discarding or freezing of human embryos, their use as sources of transplant tissue or as subjects for research or experiment, unless this is done solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned ; and forbids all forms of trans-species fertilisation.

I welcome the petition. I, too, believe that we need legislation that will forbid the purchase or sale of human embryos and their use for experiments. Cloning and the creation of hybrids are reminiscent of the Hitler era and have no place in a civilised world. I am not surprised that the strongest law to date is that passed in West Germany, where people have terrible memories of experiments carried out on human beings.

To lie upon the Table .

Broadcasting (Deaf People)

10.30 pm

Mr. Simon Hughes (Southwark and Bermondsey) : I am grateful for this opportunity to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in support of the campaign that many people have been mounting to seek to ensure that our broadcast media provide services for the deaf. It is signed by Mr. David Buxton of Brunswick quay, Redriff road, Surrey docks, Southwark and by more than 150 other constituents of mine.

The petition makes the three clear points made in many other petitions presented to the House. First, broadcasters are still not providing enough access to deaf television viewers, either by subtitles or by sign language. Secondly, more than 4 million viewers are affected--a significant number by any definition--and, thirdly, deaf viewers, as equal members of the viewing public, are entitled to equal access to television programmes.

I happen to know that the first signatory of the petition is himself deaf and therefore feels as strongly as the other signatories and I feel. The petitioners pray that our

Honourable House will ensure that legislation be passed placing an obligation on the television channel operators to make their programmes more accessible to deaf people by using Teletext subtitles, sign language or other means, and to reach complete coverage by a fixed date.

I hope that, in the context of statements made by the deputy Prime Minister and other members of the Government, we shall soon have an acceptable answer to such petitions.

To lie upon the Table.

---

Column 515

Time Harmonisation

10.31 pm

Mr. Bill Walker (Tayside, North) : I have a petition from 400 people in Scotland who oppose the EEC proposals to harmonise United Kingdom time with European Community time. These proposals, if implemented, would mean that in parts of Scotland the sun would rise at 10.30 am during the very short days of winter.

Mine is the first of many petitions on this matter. It says : Wherefore your petitioners pray that your Honourable House reject the European Community proposals to harmonise all of the Community into one time zone.

To lie upon the Table.

---