News & Events
Campaigning for embryonic stem cell research
14 May 2008
Representatives from the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association joined forces with patient organisations, scientists and MPs at a media call on Monday 12 May in support of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
In the afternoon, the Bill was given its second reading in the House of Commons where 340 MPs voted for the Bill and 78 MPs voted against.
During the parliamentary debate Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat MP and President of the MND Association asked the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson:
“On the substantive point about medical research, does the Secretary of State recognise that many organisations, including the Motor Neurone Disease Association, have watched with great interest and hope as the Bill has been formed?
“Many people face a sentence of death because of incurable diseases such as motor neurone disease, and are depending on the opportunities provided by parts of the Bill to find cures for such dreadful and debilitative wasting diseases.”
The Minister commended Mr Öpik’s comments as “the most important point about why the research is necessary”, and further praised him for the “constructive way in which he has dealt with the Bill.”
During the debate eight other MPs mentioned MND and the importance of the Bill to progress MND research.
On Monday 19 May, the Committee Stage of the Bill begins, when MPs will have a free vote on the clause of the Bill relating to the use of human-admixed embryos in medical research.
In the afternoon, the Bill was given its second reading in the House of Commons where 340 MPs voted for the Bill and 78 MPs voted against.
During the parliamentary debate Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat MP and President of the MND Association asked the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson:
“On the substantive point about medical research, does the Secretary of State recognise that many organisations, including the Motor Neurone Disease Association, have watched with great interest and hope as the Bill has been formed?
“Many people face a sentence of death because of incurable diseases such as motor neurone disease, and are depending on the opportunities provided by parts of the Bill to find cures for such dreadful and debilitative wasting diseases.”
The Minister commended Mr Öpik’s comments as “the most important point about why the research is necessary”, and further praised him for the “constructive way in which he has dealt with the Bill.”
During the debate eight other MPs mentioned MND and the importance of the Bill to progress MND research.
On Monday 19 May, the Committee Stage of the Bill begins, when MPs will have a free vote on the clause of the Bill relating to the use of human-admixed embryos in medical research.
