Dr. Kirsty Horsey:

I did research in 2015 and 2018 that involved the largest surveys of surrogates and people involved with surrogacy that, as far as we know, has been undertaken in the UK. Overwhelmingly, surrogates did not see themselves as mothers and did not want the term "mother" to be used. The term "surrogate mother" was disliked by them and it was a point we put to the Law Commission before it started even looking at this. The term "surrogate" is preferred rather than "surrogate mother" throughout the Law Commission process.

As Ms Gamble said, this is not about erasing the birth mother. I agree that as in the case of gamete fertilisation, it is important for records to be kept and for ongoing knowledge and contact even to take place between the parties. My current research and research I have done indicates amazing amounts of ongoing contact between surrogates and the families they helped to create. Surrogates may not see themselves as mothers but the relationships can be enmeshed and there may be a deep friendship or bond formed in many of these arrangements. It is a lifelong bond and most of the children in the studies I have done will grow up knowing exactly who was the surrogate and her involvement. All parties are really open and honest about that. That is to be praised, actually.