SPUC finds Commons vote for embryo bill disturbing London, Monday, - The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has commented on tonight's House of Commons second reading vote in favour of the government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

Paul Tully, SPUC general secretary, said: "This result is very disturbing. In the debate we heard yet more promises of therapies that could come from such research. In 1990 we were told that breakthroughs were imminent and yet nothing has been achieved save the destruction of countless human embryos. "There were also threats tonight from some MPs that they are prepared to use the bill to widen access to abortion. Although the government has stated that it would prefer not to have abortion amendments in the bill, it has not taken steps to stop this from happening. If pro-abortion MPs succeed in making access to abortion more widely available and imposing it on Northern Ireland, the government will share in the responsibility." 340 MPs voted for the bill and 78 opposed it.