A number of constituents have been in touch with me regarding abortion and the Abortion (Decriminalisation) Bill.
I understand what an important issue this is for many people in the constituency.
This is an incredibly delicate area of law and, regardless of the views of individual MPs, one which is treated with the utmost rigour. The approach to abortion in the UK is set out in the Abortion Act 1967 and this remains unchanged. Abortion legislation can only be changed by Parliament. It is accepted Parliamentary practice that proposals for changes in the law on abortion come from backbench members and that decisions are made on the basis of free votes.
The Department of Health issued guidance for doctors on how to comply with the Act in 2014. This makes clear that abortion on the grounds of gender alone is unlawful and further sets out how the law is interpreted by the Department of Health. Full details can be found online here: href=”http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-doctors-on-compliance-with-the-abortion-act”>www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-doctors-on-compliance-with-the-abortion-act The Abortion Act sets out that two doctors must certify that in their opinion, which must be formed in good faith, a request for an abortion meets at least one and the same ground set out in the Act.
I am encouraged that the Department of Health has taken the view that registered medical practitioners should be able to show how they have considered the particular facts and circumstances of a case when forming their opinion.
