ACCESS TO ABORTION

Early day motion 1247, tabled 27 April 1998 by Gareth Thomas (Labour). Signed by 67 members.

That this House notes that it is 30 years since the Abortion Act took effect on 27th April 1968; expresses concern about the continuing difficulties some women face in obtaining compassionate, prompt abortion services; further notes that women are often delayed or refused help by their general practitioners or hospital doctors; recognises that in England and Wales only 72 per cent of abortions for resident women are provided by the NHS and that in certain areas this figure falls to below 50 per cent compared with 99 per cent in the whole of Scotland; believes that inequalities in access to abortion within the NHS are unacceptable; and agrees with the recommendations of the Voice of Choice campaign that doctors with an ethical objection to abortion should be obliged to declare it and that abortion should be available on the request of the woman in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy throughout the UK.

Signatures by party: Labour 57, Conservative 3, Labour/Co-operative 3, Liberal Democrat 2, Plaid Cymru 2.