I have received a number of e-mails recently surrounding the Abortion issue, particularly as it relates to the provision of abortion rights in Northern Ireland.
I recognise that this is a very delicate and sensitive issue.
I am a long standing supporter and defender of the 1967 Abortion Act. During my time in student politics I worked with women of all political persuasions in defence of the 1967 Act and have continued to support a woman’s right to choose.
Women who attend an abortion clinic for a termination are invariably vulnerable. I recently took exception to protests which disrupted and harassed NUHT staff at the QMC. Those who oppose abortion are fully entitled to their views and to seek to change the law. These protests, however, were targeted at hospital staff rather than policy/law makers and were designed to make staff feel guilt for their actions rather than seeking to change public opinion.
I have also spoken in Parliament multiple times recently on the subject of women from Northern Ireland who seek terminations being charged to have them on the mainland by the NHS. I was pleased to see that following a recent judgement by the Supreme Court, the Government has announced that payment for abortions for Northern Irish women in the NHS will be met by the Government Equalities Office with additional funding. The funding of NHS abortion services for Northern Irish women by the Government Equalities Office ensures that these women have safe access to legal abortions in England, without compromising the devolution of NHS services in the UK.
Many of my constituents have contacted me specifically regarding the case of a mother being prosecuted under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act in Northern Ireland. A judge in Belfast has granted permission for a judicial review to be heard over the prosecution of the mother, as he believed that the case raised issues of considerable public importance and debate. The judicial review will be held in the autumn and I await the results.
Some of my constituents have nevertheless expressed concerns over the extension of the provision of free abortion access to women from Northern Ireland. I have written on their behalf to the Secretary of State of Northern Ireland with these concerns and I will update my website with the response when I receive it.
P.S. I have now received a response from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which better clarifies the Government position on the matter. I have attached a copy of the response on the link below.
Thank you once again for contacting me on this important issue.