The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, will call later today (24 March) for a broadly-based national bioethics committee to consider vital ethical questions presented by new technologies of reproductive cloning.

The call will follow the publication of a report by Parliament's Science and Technology Select Committee into the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990).

The Cardinal will not be giving interviews, but will issue a full statement outlining his proposal. A similar call is expected to be made by some other religious leaders.

The Cardinal's principal advisor, Sir Stephen Wall, and his press secretary, Austen Ivereigh, may be available for interviews and further comment.

To receive a copy of the statement, or/and to request an interview, please email Susan Claridge on susanclaridge@rcdow.org.uk.