A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE

Early day motion 83A1, tabled 11 June 1997 by Ann Winterton (Conservative). Signed by 34 members.

leave out from 'House' to end and add 'sympathises with all women experiencing difficulties in their pregnancies, whether these be social, economic or emotional and makes no criticism of those who have for whatever reason felt it appropriate to seek an abortion; nonetheless notes that the Abortion Act does not confer on a woman the right to have an abortion, but further notes that since the implementation of that law there have been about 4.5 million abortions in the United Kingdom of which over 95 per cent. have been performed for reasons essentially of social convenience; observes that abortion has demonstrably failed to solve the social problems for wnich it was hailed as the panacea and that it has done nothing to liberate women, instead providing men with the oppertunity to refuse to face the consequences of their actions; notes that opinion polls regularly show considerable opposition to social abortion and the killing of unborn children, including a Daily Mirror poll on the recent case in Scotland, in which 80 per cent. of the respondents felt it wrong for the mother concerned to have an abortion; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to promote instead practical alternatives to abortion, including adoption to help women under stress.'.

Signatures by party: Conservative 16, UUP 7, Labour 5, Liberal Democrat 3, DUP 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.