Government targets 16-week embryos

Unborn babies are to be the youngest members of society targeted as part of the government's family review. Embryos will be identified when their mothers are 16 weeks into pregnancy as potential victims or criminals and efforts will be made to give extra support to their parents.

Women whose children are most likely to be born into a deprived family will be offered help from health visitors and social workers until their child reaches the age of two.

The scheme was first launched in America where supporters say it leads to better language development and lower chances of abuse or neglect.

Kate Billingham, the project's director of the project said she thought labelling children so early in life was a positive step. 'I myself think labelling and stigmatising are used as ways of not giving people the help they want and their children can benefit from.'

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