Stonewall strongly welcomes provisions in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which would provide equal legal recognition for the children of same-sex parents and remove existing barriers to lesbians accessing safe, regulated fertility services.
The Bill is currently awaiting Report and Third Reading debate in the House of Commons, which will take place after MPs return from the parliamentary summer recess in October.
The Bill was passed by the House of Lords in February, and has already received detailed scrutiny by MPs at committee stage.
On Tuesday 20 May, MPs voted by a significant majority to reject amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which would have made it more difficult for lesbians to receive fertility treatment at safe, regulated clinics.
MPs voted to support the Bill in its current form, which replaces the existing requirement for clinics to consider the 'need for a father' with a duty to consider the need for 'supportive parenting' before granting treatment. MPs rejected a first amendment by a majority of 75 votes (292 to 217) and a second by a majority of 68 (290 to 222).
Stonewall welcomes this step - the current system routinely encourages women to make informal arrangements outside the protection of formal healthcare.
Part 2 of the Bill will also mean that same-sex couples, including civil partners, are legally recognised as parents of children conceived during their relationship. Currently, same-sex partners must formally apply to adopt any child born in a relationship, in order to become a parent.
Stonewall warmly welcomes this proposed change in the law. We believe that it is critically important for any child to be raised in a stable and loving home. Many same-sex couples already raise children in just such an environment, almost always with significant mindfulness of the importance of appropriate role models in or close to their family units. It is timely that the law reflects this.
There is no credible evidence to support the suggestion that children of lesbian parents are at any disadvantage developmentally compared to others.
The provisions in the Bill would categorically not remove the existing right of children born to a same sex couple to know or have access to information about their biological parents. This right is already protected by law and will not change as a consequence of this Bill. Information to identify the biological parent is recorded and made available to a donor-conceived person when they reach 18.
Background
The House of Lords passed the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill on Monday 4 February. Peers rejected an amendment which would have had a negative impact on lesbian couples and single women seeking assisted fertility treatment at fertility clinics. Peers voted against it by 164 votes to 93 during Report stage debate on 21 January 2008.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill was first published in draft in May 2007 and has received extensive scrutiny since then.
Stonewall will continue to work tirelessly to ensure fairness and greater legal recognition for same-sex parents and most importantly, greater protection for their children.
Follow the progress of the bill on the Parliament website here.
Download 'A guide to the current law and how it works'
Download 'A guide to conception through donor insemination'
Download 'A guide to co-parenting'
Click here for more info on parenting
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