Current legislation
Health and Social Care BillThis bill, introduced by Alan Johnson, Department of Health, seeks to 'make provision in connection with a Care Quality Commission; to make provision about health care (including provision about the National Health Service) and about social care; to make provision about reviews and investigations under the Mental Health Act 1983; to establish and make provision in connection with an Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator and make other provision about the regulation of the health care professions; to confer power to modify the regulation of social care workers; to amend the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984; to provide for the payment of a grant to women in connection with pregnancy; to amend the functions of the Health Protection Agency; and for connected purposes.'
The Bill has undergone its second reading in the House of Commons and is awaiting a Committee date. For further details follow the link: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/healthandsocialcare.html
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill (House of Lords)
This bill, introduced by Lord Darzi of Denham, Department of Health, seeks to provide: 'revised and updated legislation for assisted reproduction and changes to the regulation and licensing of the use of embryos in research and therapy. Amendments to abortion law are likely to be introduced during the passage of this Bill'.
A draft Bill, the Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, was scrutinised by a Joint Committee of both Houses during the summer of 2007. Changes to the Human Tissue Act, such as the establishment of a new body called RATE (Regulatory Authority for Tissues and Embryos), have been dropped. The change in the name of the Bill reflects that revision.
The Bill is currently at the Report Stage. Report was due January 15, 2008. For further details follow the link:
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/humanfertilisationandembryology.html