BOLTON MP Ruth Kelly has voted against a Commons move to allow new experiments on human embryos.

Liberal Democrat Evan Harris wanted to permit experiments on embryos up to 14 days old in a bid to find a cure for adult degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.

At the moment, such experiments are permitted for work connected with infertility treatment and contraception.

Dr Harris, a medical doctor, wanted to extend this permission to work dedicated to finding ways of modifying cells to prevent or cure Parkinson's, other diseases, some cancers and spinal injuries.

Although he accepted that his Bill was unlikely to become law, he hoped to prompt the Government into action on the issue of stem cell research, also known as therapeutic cloning.

But Bolton West MP Mrs Kelly, a Roman Catholic, was one of a number of MPs to oppose his bill.

She said: "I believe that human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception, and therefore strongly oppose the practise of scientists obtaining stem cells from a human embryo for research for regenerative therapies.

"Doing so would result in the destruction of human life. Supporters of the Evan Harris Bill have argued the potential medical advances that embryo stem cell research could eventually bring.

"But, it is my belief that alternative methods such as the use of adult stem cells are being carelessly dismissed. I am extremely concerned about the implication of Evan Harris' Bill, as its acceptance would seriously undermine the value and dignity of human life."