PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
TREATMENT OF SENTIENT CREATURES (20 February 1995)

Motion Details

That this House understands concern and non-violent protest about the inhumane treatment of sentient creatures, including the export of veal calves; notes that consistent scientific research since that of I. D. Hogg in 1941 clearly shows that the human fetus reacts to painful stimuli from five to six weeks gestation when touched around the mouth and that this extends to an almost complete range of cutaneous responses at 12 weeks; notes that the perception of pain is principally within those parts of the thalamus which develop between nine and 12 weeks gestation; further notes that the cortex which develops after the thalamus influences pain perception by reducing its intensity; thus notes that in these early stages of development the fetus could be subjected to an intensity of pain greater than that experienced by born humans; recalls that Professor Sir William Liley, renowned internationally as the father of fetal medicine, comparing attitudes towards animals and the human fetus, recorded his unhappiness that we withhold from the human fetus a charitable consideration we extend to animals; and calls for changes to the Abortion Act to give protection to the human fetus who has less legal protection than laboratory animals and less charitable consideration from the 'politically correct' than they extend to livestock.

Sponsored by:
Mr Joe Benton (Labour)

EDMS Sponsor By Party

Party
Votes
%
 
Labour
26
49%
 
 
Conservative
19
36%
 
 
Ulster Unionist Party
2
4%
 
 
Democratic Unionist Party
1
2%
 
 
Not Available
1
2%
 
 
Crossbench
1
2%
 
 
The Independent Group for Change
1
2%
 
 
Liberal Democrat
1
2%
 
 
Lord Speaker
1
2%
 
Sponsor List (53 sponsors)
Party
Member
Constituency
XB
Lord Alton of Liverpool
Con
Mr David Atkinson
LD
Lord Beith
Con
Mr Vivian Bendall
Lab
Mr Joe Benton (Sponsor)
Con
Sir Andrew Bowden
Con
Sir Rhodes Boyson
Con
Sir Julian Brazier
Lab
Mr Ronnie Campbell
Con
Sir William Cash
Lab
Mr Michael Clapham
Lab
Mr Eric Clarke
Con
Michael Colvin
Lab
Frank Cook
Lab
John Cummings
Lab
Mr Lawrence Cunliffe
Con
Mr Stephen Day
Lab
Mr John Denham
Con
Den Dover
Con
Mr Bob Dunn
Lab
Jimmy Dunnachie
Lab
Lord Evans of Parkside
Lab
Andrew Faulds
Lab
Paul Flynn
Con
Sir Peter Fry
Con
Mr Phil Gallie
IGC
Mike Gapes
Mr Tommy Graham
Con
Harry Greenway
Lab
Peter Hardy
Lab
Norman Hogg
DUP
Mr Andrew Hunter
Con
Toby Jessel
Lab
Mr Piara S Khabra
Con
Sir Edward Leigh
Gainsborough
Lab
Eddie Loyden
Lab
Dr Calum MacDonald
Lab
Lord McAvoy
Lord Speaker
Lord McFall of Alcluith
Lab
William McKelvey
Lab
Sir Alan Meale
Lab
Lord Murphy of Torfaen
Lab
Gordon Oakes
Con
Mrs Elizabeth Peacock
UUP
Mr William Ross
Lab
Lord Rowlands
UUP
The Rev Martin Smyth
Con
David Sumberg
Lab
Jack Thompson
Lab
Keith Vaz
Con
Ann Winterton
Con
Sir Nicholas Winterton
Lab
Mr Jimmy Wray

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