Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
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Government expected to rush through new regulations on human cloning this week

Westminster, 27 November 2000--It has been revealed that the government will try to authorise research on cloned human embryos this week. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) learned today that the government plans to lay before Parliament tomorrow a statutory instrument which would amend the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. It is possible that debates could then be held as soon as Wednesday in the House of Commons and Thursday in the House of Lords.

John Smeaton, national director of SPUC, said: "We believe that the government will try to rush through its proposals to allow human cloning this week, probably on Wednesday. Despite the statement earlier this month by Margaret Beckett, leader of the House, promising a long-term debate on human cloning, Labour MPs on the government payroll will now be under pressure to support cloning.

"Destructive research on cloned human embryos is totally contrary to any concept of fundamental human rights, and has been repeatedly condemned by the European parliament. It involves the deliberate creation and destruction of individual human beings through cloning, thereby demeaning the value of human life and undermining the basis of civilised society."