SPUC concerned at peers' OK to cloning

Westminster, 22 January 2001--The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has expressed its deep concern at the House of Lords' approval of new regulations to permit research on cloned human embryos. It has also criticised the peers' request for a select committee on the matter even though they have already approved the introduction of the measure.

Anthony Ozimic, SPUC's political spokesman, said: "It is absurd that a select committee should be expected to report after the passage of the very measure which it is supposed to examine. Once again the government has succeeded in bouncing parliament into following its ill-judged agenda on biotechnology. Even Lady Warnock, who supported the government's proposals, admitted that Parliament had been 'bullied and pushed' into approving human cloning.

"This government has been totally impervious to the ever-growing protest at the way it has rushed its proposals through Parliament. All the major religious leaders in this country, scores of European politicians, many scientists and countless members of the public urged the government not to break its promises of a thorough, open scrutiny of human cloning.

"Research on cloned embryos will involve the creation of human beings who will be plundered for their cells and be killed in the process. It is also a step on the way to allowing cloning for reproductive purposes."