Order, order

A BILL TO prohibit reproductive cloning and embryo creation for research purposes,

BE IT ENACTED by The Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Section 1: Definitions

A) An embryo is a zygote.

B) Embryonic Stem Cells (ES cells) are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, an early-stage preimplantation embryo.

C) Embryonic Stem Cell Research is research conducted on embryos for the purpose of studying the properties of ES cells.

D) Reproductive Cloning is the genetic duplication of ES cells.

E) Therapeutic Cloning is the extraction of stem cells from the blastocyst of a fertilised egg whose nucleus has been removed and has been replaced by the nucleus of another cell.

Section 2: Prohibition of Reproductive Cloning and Embryo Creation for Research Purposes

A) The destruction of ES cells produced via reproductive cloning shall be a criminal offence.

B) The production and/or reproductive cloning of embryos for the sole purpose of conducting research on ES cells, resulting in the destruction of an embryo, shall be a criminal offence.

C) The donation of surplus embryos from in vitro fertilisation treatments shall be the only embryos on which research shall be legal.

D) Therapeutic Cloning shall remain legal, however, only when the fertilised egg used is obtained via the system detailed in 2(C).

Section 3: Punishments

A) Any action deemed to be in violation with the provisions detailed in sub-sections 2(A) and 2(B) shall be punishable by a fine of a minimum value of £5,000 and a maximum value of £250,000 per infraction, and up to 10 years in prison.

Section 4: Commencement, Short Title and Extent

A) This Act-

i) May be cited as “The Embryonic Stem Cell Research Reform Act 2016”

ii) Extends to all regions of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

iii) Shall come into effect 1 month after passing

This bill was submitted by /u/Goonersam on behalf of the Nationalist Party. This reading will end on the 1st of May.