35th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ABORTION ACT 1967

Early day motion 1826, tabled 28 October 2002 by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour). Signed by 12 members.

That this House notes the 35th anniversary of the passing of the Abortion Act 1967; records that of 37 world-wide studies since 1957, 28 have shown a positive association between abortion and breast cancer; notes that data indicates that girls of under 18 who have abortions double their risk of breast cancer; further notes that of 15 major American projects, funded at least in part by the US National Cancer Institute, 13 showed an increased risk; regrets the tragic dearth of such work in the United Kingdom despite strong statistical evidence indicating the need for research; notes the work of the British actuary Patrick Carroll, suggesting statistical links between abortion and breast cancer and forecasting a rise from 40,000 cases to over 77,000 in 2023 if current fertility and abortion patterns continue; further notes an American study on mental health in the British Medical Journal in January 2002 indicated that women who abort a first pregnancy are at greater risk of subsequent long-term clinical depression compared to women who carry an unintended first pregnancy to term; notes many other world-wide research projects affirming post-abortion syndrome as a clinical condition; regrets the lack of such research in the United Kingdom; recognises that women who have the right to choose also have the right to know what they are choosing; and calls on the Government to further research by circulating hospitals to check on abortion histories of women suffering from breast cancer, clinical depression and other relevant psychiatric illness.

Signatures by party: Labour 5, Conservative 3, Labour/Co-operative 2, Liberal Democrat 1, Plaid Cymru 1.