With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I wish to present a petition to Parliament on behalf of approximately 250 of my constituents in the Division of Teignbridge. The first signature on the petition is that of the organiser, Mr. Richard Wills, of 18 Gloucester Road, Newton Abbot, Devon.

The petitioners aver that the newly-fertilised human embryo is a real living individual human being, and they therefore welcome the statement in the Warnock report that

"the status of the embryo is a matter of fundamental principle which should be enshrined in legislation".

They therefore oppose all such practices that are recommended in the report which discriminate against the embryo or violate its human dignity and right to life. They therefore urge the House to

take immediate steps to enact legislation which forbids any procedure that involves purchase or sale of human embryos, the discarding of human embryos, their use as sources of transplant tissue or as subjects for research or experiment (unless this is done solely for the benefit of the embryo concerned).

Hon. Members present many petitions. Sometimes we agree with them and sometimes we do not. I support wholeheartedly the sentiments that have motivated the petitioners in this case. They conclude:

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.