MPs Renew Call for Abortion Review

1.53.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 3rd Jul 2006

MPs today renewed their call for the Government to institute a proper review of the UK's abortion legislation. Speaking in the House of Commons debate, Dr Evan Harris said:

"Our abortion law is essentially unchanged since 1967 and it must be time to look at whether scientific, medical and social changes require the law to be updated."

Last year the Select Committee unanimously agreed a recommendation that a review should be conducted with a view to presenting options for new legislation.

"Without such a review, any bill that the Government brings forward following its consultation is liable to be derailed by uninformed and polarised amendments to abortion legislation."

Dr Harris indicated that areas to be covered in any review would include the scientific basis for any change in viability, medical advances which would allow easier access to early abortion, updating of the way doctors' conscientious objection is dealt with, and the extension to Northern Ireland of the 1967 act since the current position of women and doctors is unsatisfactory.

"Government ministers and opposition politicians at the last election said that abortion law is not a party political issue which is exactly why the Government does not have any sort of mandate to keep the status quo. That's why cross party review involving both Houses of Parliament will be the best basis to look at the law. The Government cannot keep sweeping this under the carpet."