Government presses ahead with 3-parent baby plan despite significant public opposition

The Government has announced its intention to press ahead with a new IVF technique that will result in the creation of children with three, instead of two, genetic parents - despite opposition from 60 per cent of those who responded to a public consultation on the proposals earlier this year. 

Public Health Minister, Jane Ellison MP, made a statement in the House of Lords confirming that the Government will proceed with placing regulations before Parliament following the publication of the Department of Health's response to its 12-week consultation on Tuesday (22 June).

Ms Ellison said that the Government has “taken the view that our policy position on the key issues remains the correct one.”  However, 1,152 of the 1,857 responses received to the consultation were opposed to the technique, echoing widespread concerns surrounding the ethics and unknown health risks of the procedure. 

Respondents noted the lack of evidence to prove that the proposed technique was sufficiently safe for clinical use, highlighting that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) itself has recommended that a series of further critical tests be carried out before proceeding with human trials. 

Despite this, ministers have called for a "firm timetable" for regulations to be placed before Parliament at the earliest opportunity.  

Responding to the development, Dr David King, director of Human Genetics Alert, said: “Looking back 15 years from now in the midst of a designer baby marketplace, people will see this as the moment when the crucial ethical line was crossed.

“A precautionary approach would demand much more evidence and the government would wait for that rather than rushing legislation through.”

Read more (Telegraph) >

Last month, Fiona Bruce MP and Josephine Quintavalle of Comment on Reproductive Ethics (CORE) spoke to BBC Radio, highlighting the serious problems with the proposals.

Listen to Fiona Bruce MP speaking to Radio 4’s Today programme here >

Listen to Josephine Quintavalle speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria here >

Read Christian Concern's response to the recent HFEA consultation on plans for "three parent babies" by clicking here >