The ProLife Alliance has always strongly supported ethical, practical alternatives to destructive embryo research. Not only is the destruction of embryos unethical, but it is also completely unnecessary, as umbilical cord blood provides an ethical alternative, which could save lives but is currently thrown away in hospitals every day.

David Burrowes, Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate has a Private Members Bill – Umbilical Cord Blood (Donation) Bill and is launching an All Party Parliamentary Group to sustain the campaign to promote the use of umbilical cord blood.

The Umbilical Cord Blood (Donation) Bill seeks to promote the donation of umbilical cord blood by giving the Secretary of State a duty to:
- encourage pregnant women to donate their umbilical cord blood after birth
- increase awareness of the value of umbilical cord blood for the treatment of diseases and for research of new treatment methods
- promote the collection of cord blood samples from designated groups, including minority groups and mixed race families in which there is a history of diseases that are, or may be, treatable by use of cord blood.
- The Bill requires the Secretary of State to issue guidance to doctors and midwives to inform pregnant women about umbilical cord blood and where it can be collected. The Health Secretary would also be required to inform Parliament each year of the number of cord samples donated the number of cord blood transplants and their therapeutic use.

The Bill has cross party support as well as support from the Anthony Nolan Trust, the UK Thalassaemia Society, the Leukaemia Society (UK), and many individuals who recognise the value now of cord blood treating 85 different diseases and the potential new treatments in the future.

David Burrowes said “In this country umbilical cord blood is routinely thrown away after birth and its life saving value is wasted. Only 4 hospitals collect cord blood, less than 1,000 cord blood samples are stored at the NHS bank each year, and less than 200 cord blood transplants have taken place in the UK. Many sufferers of leukaemia or blood related disorders are forced to search overseas for an appropriate cord blood match. At a time when the Government is pushing through the Human Fertilisation and Embryo Bill for the UK to be a world leader in regenerative medicine it is a timely opportunity to support stem cell therapy which has a proven record when it comes to treatments. The Bill supports an ethical and convenient alternative to embryonic sources of stem cells. It also supports a greater understanding of cord blood and opportunities for donation to help parents who are waiting desperately for treatment for their children with diseases such as leukaemia.”