The House of Lords Select Committee on Stem Cell Research has commissioned The Hansard Society (an independent organisation) to carry out an
on-line consultation to gauge the public's views on the issues surrounding stem cell research and therapeutic cloning. Each participant is required to provide his or her e-mail address and is allocated a password to log in to the consultation. Contributions may be signed or anonymous. The consultation focusses on three main areas under the headings "Cloning", "Regulation" and "Respect for the embryo". Within these sections, the debate has been primed by a set of eight "opening questions" posted by the moderator, and by keynote contributions from representatives of four organisations, two broadly supportive of research on embryonic stem cells and two broadly opposed. The on-line consultation runs until Friday 19 October.