I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. It is a great pleasure to open this debate. Hon. Members always say that their Bills or debates are timely, and I am no different. My Bill is particularly timely, not least because next week attention will...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. It is a great pleasure to open this debate. Hon. Members always say that their Bills or debates are timely, and I am no different. My Bill is particularly timely, not least because next week attention will...

The hon. Gentleman is right to say that we are lagging behind in those respects. Does he agree that that is a tragic irony, as in this field we have some of the best minds in the world? He will know that I am very involved with the Motor Neurone...

The hon. Gentleman is right to say that we are lagging behind in those respects. Does he agree that that is a tragic irony, as in this field we have some of the best minds in the world? He will know that I am very involved with the Motor Neurone...

The hon. Gentleman again raises an interesting point, and I feel really confident that the Minister who has responsibility for this matter will want to share the findings of the review. If he writes to me on those points, I will personally see that they are given priority in the...

The hon. Gentleman again raises an interesting point, and I feel really confident that the Minister who has responsibility for this matter will want to share the findings of the review. If he writes to me on those points, I will personally see that they are given priority in the...

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. The Department of Health's umbilical cord review is due to report in the late autumn, towards the end of the year. The consultants carrying out this extensive review are due to produce their report soon, as I have said. The work is important...

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. The Department of Health's umbilical cord review is due to report in the late autumn, towards the end of the year. The consultants carrying out this extensive review are due to produce their report soon, as I have said. The work is important...

I invite the Minister, once the conclusions are reached at the end of the year, to make a presentation to the new all-party group, which will be very pleased to hear what she has to say. Perhaps she will let me know whether she will accept that invitation. Also, will...

I invite the Minister, once the conclusions are reached at the end of the year, to make a presentation to the new all-party group, which will be very pleased to hear what she has to say. Perhaps she will let me know whether she will accept that invitation. Also, will...

I congratulate my friend and colleague the hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Burrowes) on introducing the Bill and I am sad that the time for examining it is so limited. I am not sure whether the Government were concerned about the previous measure, which they seemed to want to...

I congratulate my friend and colleague the hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Burrowes) on introducing the Bill and I am sad that the time for examining it is so limited. I am not sure whether the Government were concerned about the previous measure, which they seemed to want to...

First, let me say to the hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Burrowes) that of course we have sympathy for the sentiment of the Bill. Indeed, it would command our support were it not for the fact that we already carry out everything that it requires. It is important to...

First, let me say to the hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Burrowes) that of course we have sympathy for the sentiment of the Bill. Indeed, it would command our support were it not for the fact that we already carry out everything that it requires. It is important to...

What my hon. Friend is putting forward seems to be absolute common sense. Have the Government indicated to him in advance that they support the Bill?

What my hon. Friend is putting forward seems to be absolute common sense. Have the Government indicated to him in advance that they support the Bill?

Sadly, I have not had that indication. As I am sure the Minister will confirm, there is a general indication that there is support for the Bill. Indeed, a recent parliamentary answer said that there is support for umbilical cord research as well as other types of stem cell research,...

Sadly, I have not had that indication. As I am sure the Minister will confirm, there is a general indication that there is support for the Bill. Indeed, a recent parliamentary answer said that there is support for umbilical cord research as well as other types of stem cell research,...

I appreciate my hon. Friend's remarks. A constituent of mine, Mrs. Jeanette Crizzle, who has now very sadly passed away, was of mixed parentage and died of leukaemia because she could not find a suitable bone marrow match. That led to the creation of the Jeanette Crizzle Trust, which is...

I appreciate my hon. Friend's remarks. A constituent of mine, Mrs. Jeanette Crizzle, who has now very sadly passed away, was of mixed parentage and died of leukaemia because she could not find a suitable bone marrow match. That led to the creation of the Jeanette Crizzle Trust, which is...

My hon. Friend is vigorous in the campaign on behalf of that organisation and has already raised the matter in the House this week. I commend him on that. The collection of umbilical cord blood by NHS hospitals has arisen in an ad hoc way, not in a way that...

My hon. Friend is vigorous in the campaign on behalf of that organisation and has already raised the matter in the House this week. I commend him on that. The collection of umbilical cord blood by NHS hospitals has arisen in an ad hoc way, not in a way that...

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I am one of the sponsors of the Bill and support it. What he is doing is important. I recall that when I visited the blood service in my constituency a little while ago, people there particularly emphasised the importance of collecting umbilical cord blood...

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I am one of the sponsors of the Bill and support it. What he is doing is important. I recall that when I visited the blood service in my constituency a little while ago, people there particularly emphasised the importance of collecting umbilical cord blood...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention and for his support for the Bill. A significant service is provided by the cord blood bank at Edgware and, not far from his constituency, at the Royal Free hospital, with the work that the Anthony Nolan Trust does on cord blood...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention and for his support for the Bill. A significant service is provided by the cord blood bank at Edgware and, not far from his constituency, at the Royal Free hospital, with the work that the Anthony Nolan Trust does on cord blood...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, who is a passionate advocate for those who suffer from motor neurone disease; we all commend him on that. We are world leaders, to an extent. The issue is timely because at Newcastle university Professor Colin McGuckin and his assistant Dr. Nico Forraz...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, who is a passionate advocate for those who suffer from motor neurone disease; we all commend him on that. We are world leaders, to an extent. The issue is timely because at Newcastle university Professor Colin McGuckin and his assistant Dr. Nico Forraz...

The Minister rightly mentioned the problems relating to ethnic minorities, but this is much more of a problem for people of mixed race. That area is smaller and much more crucial.

The Minister rightly mentioned the problems relating to ethnic minorities, but this is much more of a problem for people of mixed race. That area is smaller and much more crucial.

Umbilical Cord Blood (Donation) Bill. Second reading debate. Debate adjourned. To be resumed 24 October.

Umbilical Cord Blood (Donation) Bill. Second reading debate. Debate adjourned. To be resumed 24 October.