Forced Sterilisation

Annette Brooke
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure the inclusion of an article prohibiting forced sterilisation of children with disabilities in the forthcoming UN Convention on People with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. McGuire
The Government consider that this matter is already addressed in general terms in the article in the present draft text of the convention concerning respect for home and the family, but would be prepared to consider any more specific proposals put forward during the next negotiating session on the draft convention in August 2006.