THE POWELL Bill represents the biggest threat to abortion since the 1967 Act was passed. The White, Benyon and Corrie Bills would have severely restricted the Act. Powell's Bill potentially goes much further because, for the first time in our law, it gives legal status to the foetus.
There are only three other instances where the foetus has been given such following the constitution- legal right: al amendment in 1983, and fascists were in power.
Every mother a willing mother, every child a wanted child Model resolution women's rights and must be opposed, because:
secretary of state doctor-patient confidentiality.
not allow abnormal embryos to be rejected.
post-coital contraception and abortion.
We therefore determine:
the Bill 2. Affiliate/ donate to/support NAC plications of the Bill on n maren The supporters Powell's Unborn Children (Protection) Bill made it clear during the debate on the second reading that the title is the most important the Bill. For about them it was but a prelude This (organisation) believes that the Enoch Powell Unborn Children (Protection) Bill is an attack on 1. It requires that the names of individual women undergoing treatment for infertility are sent to the an invasion of privacy and 2. It will restrict research into the causes and treatment of infertility, foetal abnormality and miscarriage, and into the development of contraception. 3. Because it restricts the number of fertilised ova that can be implanted into a woman to one, it will reduce the effectiveness of in-vitro fertilisation and will 4. It gives, for the first time in our law, a legal protection to the embryo, thus opening the door to legislation outlawing certain forms of contraception, 1. To write to our MPs outlining our opposition to 3. To organise a local meeting to explain ine im4. To send a delegate to the meeting called by NAC to banning abortion and post-coital torms of contraception.
The Bill sets out to prevent an ovum fertilised invitro from being used lor anything other than being placed in the body of named woman quirement that Leo Abse described licensed motherhood'.
If the Bill is passed the immediate consequences that all résearch will NAC Committee (personal capacity)
using fertilised ova will cease. This includes research into contraception causes of infertility prevention of handicap At the moment three or four embryos are placed in the woman to ensure that at least one will implant. In a series of cases where only CUDI VU Was planted, one out of twenty-eight women became pregnant. Even using three or tour the rate is only one ir ten. When in-vitro fertilisation is used, several eggs are taken at a time in the nope Inal one will oc successfully fertilised. Under the Bill, if more than one is fertilised the doctor will be made to impostell Underlying the Bill is the idea that at the moment of conception a full human exists, with all the rights of born humans. It is unsurthat Powell and other extreme right wingers have this philosophy. They believe we are our genes, that the environment is immaterial.
Anti-abortionists claim BILL! that science proves we are human from conception.
certainly has science proved the importance of environment even before birth. Drugs, radioactivity, alcohol can all damage the foetus.
Science has also proved that about 60 per cent of all conceptions are lost at a La very early further per cent are spontaneously aborted. Presumably these "human beings' too.
Unfortunately : Tories Was not just right wing Forly Your Labour MPs voted Powell. did too — and only 41 were there to vote against. One hundred and twenty did not bother - or dare - to anena We must fight Powell nail, LOOLE without delay. We have onlv a lew weeks to mount a massive national • Act Now! Send a delesate he harmeet tortion the National Abortion on Saturday 9 the Powell Bill' bulletin, 20p (plus 13p for postage). They can be CORtactea 01-405 4801 or 01-993 2031. for a Friday foetus.
Enoch Powell "The bill has a single and m? it unlawful for a human eme fertilisation experiment..
He described: a sense nance, deep and instinc Warnock Report and realis? ever it may be delinea. out... object is that it may be a huma? Jectea to experiment to us destra. pose of acquisition of knowledge He asked the House to upron: man by giving the Bill a second reside Jo Richardson on the dignity of women.
concerned' servation of the human embryo.
the The tection of individual embryos.
Norman St John Stevas fessor Jerome Lejeune as his authority.
Clare Short passed years ago contradiction at the root of the Bill.
later stage of pregnancy abortion'.
that parents their minds about the Bill.
Sir Bernard Braine and killing human embryos..' Michael Meadoweroft solely from a theological standpoint'.
actuality of life..?' research.
Leo Abse motherhood' by a oureaucal habits.men who Enochs in the House.' Kenneth Clarke afterminim H'N unusually full. Below He quite for - *let on the Powell Bill. MPs dearly +2m it mak k the rights of women versus the richie in t asked the House to consider the effects of the Bi.
The provision for the names of women to go to the secretary of state was a 'serious threat to the civil liberties of the women "The criminal offence hanging over the medical profession will literally mean the end of the ob Questioning the moral arguments for the 'protection of the embryo' she pointed out that millions are lost naturally and others destroyed by the use of well-being COT children. should take precedence over the prothought the interests of the 'unborn child' must come first. 'The embryo is a unique form of matter it is human and alive. Such Brave New World' technology was not necessary to relieve the tragic predicament of infertility,' he said quoting Pro disagreed, pointing out that if the Bill had bee "developments in in-vitro ferti isation would not have happened' and this was i "Genetic defects at an early stage of conception could not De screened out' and "couples would have to wait till a then have When people realised that the Bill would mean who desperately wanted childrer would not be able to have them they would change did not trust the scientists and their monstrou new techniques for freezing, cloning, manipulating pointed out that the house 'could not legislate "There was a difference between the potentiality of life and the He found it 'astounding that a Bill can come before this House in 1985 which forces a woman requiring assistance to conceive through IVF to have to get the approval of the secretary of state.
Women had willingly donated eggs to help with the struck out at Powell's Bill as 'a recipe for licensed faceless 'He is interested in birth...He has always been interested in the birth of blacks. His interest is founded on his prurient curiosity about their sexual not confident their sexuality fear in-vitro fertilisation. If there were fewer eunuchs in the country, there would be fewer said that the government was neutral. He would vote against the Bill, but there was a free vote.
Fight Powell Meeting on Saturday 9 March Wesley House, 70 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AX (near Holborn Tube) Starts: 10.30 for NAC affiliates, 2.00 for open meeting We only have. a few weeks to mount a campaign against the Powell Bill - potentiall!
the most serious threat to abortion we have faced
Socialist Action 8 March 1985
----- pull-quotes -----
AND NOW POWELL... Steering
WHAT DOES HE KNOW ABOUT ABORTION? The debate in parliament