Evidence and other views received
4. Despite the short timescale, we have sought
a wide range of evidence to inform our Report and we would like
to thank all those who gave us their views. We heard oral evidence
from 46 witnesses comprising expert specialists, representatives
of interested organisations and individuals. We held an evening
discussion forum with 11 organisations representing particular
moral and ethical perspectives and a report of this forum is published
in Appendix 5. We had 115 submissions of written evidence. More
than 100 other submissions were received. Some of these addressed
abortion and other issues not under direct consideration by the
Committee. Many more were inspired by a campaign by Christian
Action Research and Education (CARE) and covered issues such as
the need for a father provision (in relation to fertility treatment),
the creation of inter-species embryos, human reproductive cloning
and the regulation making powers of the Secretary of State.[4]
The Committee also conducted an online consultation on four questions
via its website (a report of the online consultation is printed
in Appendix 6). The House of Lords Delegated Powers and Regulatory
Reform Committee assisted us by commenting on the delegated powers
in the draft Bill (the Committee's advice is printed in Appendix
7). In producing our Report, we have sought to give due consideration
to everything we have heard and read. A full list of witnesses
is set out in Appendix 2 and a separate volume of evidence will
be published to accompany this report.
Acknowledgements
5. We would like to record our thanks to our
Specialist Advisers, Professor Martin Johnson, Professor of
Reproductive Sciences, Department of Physiology, Development and
Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and Professor Sheila
McLean, Professor of Law and Ethics in Medicine at the University
of Glasgow, for their valuable input and assistance during the
course of this inquiry.
1 Votes and Proceedings of the House of
Commons Wednesday 2 May 2007, House of Lords Minutes of Proceedings
of Tuesday 8 May 2007 Back
2
Cm 7087 Back
3
Report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Charities Bill, September
2004, HL 167-I / HC 660-I. See also Report of the Joint
Committee on the Draft Legal Services Bill, July 2006, HL 232-I
/ HC 1154-I, House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee
Eighth Report of Session 2005-06, Reform of the coroners' system
and death certification, HC 902-I Back
4
Ev66, See also CARE special briefing: The draft Human Tissue and
Embryos Bill, 25 May 2007, http://www.care.org.uk/Publisher/article.aspx?id=79612
(correct as at time of publication) Back
