[Twins who were separated at birth and married each other without knowing they were brother and sister were recently granted an annulment at a special hearing at the High Court in London, a peer who uncovered the case told the House of Lords]...

[The peer] said that the twins’ experience demonstrated the need to strengthen the rights of children to know the identity of their biological parents.

He argued that reforms that are currently being debated in the House of Lords threaten to undermine even existing rights.

“The right for children to know the identity of their biological parents is a human right”, [he said]. “There will be more cases like this if children are not given access to the truth. The needs of the child must always be paramount”.

The planned reforms, part of the Human Embryology and Tissues Bill, will also relax the rules on who is permitted to undergo fertility treatment. Clinics will not be allowed to prevent single women and same-sex couples from having the treatment. Under the Bill, doctors will instead have to ensure that patients can offer “supportive parenting”.

The Lords will vote on the Bill on Tuesday...

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