WAQ75914 (e) Tabled on 13/02/2018

Why was the consultation on Termination of Pregnancy Provision for Women from Northern Ireland open for only four weeks?

Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services | Answered on 21/02/2018

We are not consulting about the grounds on which abortions can be provided, which are prescribed by the Abortion Act 1967, nor are we consulting about the issue of abortion in principle.  We are instead consulting about a specific proposal to allow local health boards to provide abortions to a limited number of people not usually resident in their area.

 

This raises practical issues about access, support care, and other matters on which it would be helpful to have the views of the people affected (i.e. those providing the services, those to whom the services are being extended, and those supporting them).  We have received over 600 responses to the consultation and I am satisfied the shorter period was sufficient to allow fair, effective and meaningful consultation with the relevant stakeholders on those points.