Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos and Gametes) Regulations 2009

My Lords, very briefly, I am aware of the time, but there are assurances from the usual channels that we are not limited to an 8.30 pm finish for this debate. I will be very quick indeed. I made some remarks, when these matters were considered previously, about the welfare of the child provision, particularly the importance of considering fathers in that respect. I seek some assurances from the Minister in respect of government policy on the importance of fatherhood in consideration of these matters. The right honourable Hilary Armstrong, when she was Minister for social exclusion, gave what many of us considered to be an absolutely outstanding speech on 29 June 2006, in which she outlined government policy. She said: ""But government can’t do it all, and throughout my career I have seen the critical importance of good parenting. And fathers are as crucial as part of this as mothers. It is an obvious, but profoundly important statement that fathers have a key role to play in caring, loving, guiding and protecting their children. Research from the National Child Development Study has demonstrated that quality involvement—fathers who read for their child, take interest in their education—is closely linked with the absence of behavioural difficulties, greater academic motivation, and greater psychological resilience. The list of positive outcomes goes on and on. In short, fathers matter. And this is why fathers—indeed all parents and caregivers—must be considered as part of the vanguard in our drive against persistent social exclusion"." Furthermore, page 5 of the Engaging Fathers document produced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families states under the heading, "Key research findings": ""What are the gains for children of engaging fathers? Positive father involvement in their children’s learning is associated with better educational, social and emotional outcomes for children, including: better examination results, better school attendance and behaviour, less criminality, higher quality of later relationships, better mental health"." Those are government statements of government policy in relation to this. The welfare of the child provision in the measure that we are discussing does not require clinics to consider the presence or existence of fathers or their active involvement in the welfare of their children. I seek assurances from the Minister that government policy in regard to the importance of fathers still obtains. If that is the case, does she consider that a further strengthening of the welfare element of these regulations is required in order to make that policy as explicit as other members of the Government have made it in the past?