Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill Debate

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Department: Department of Health and Social Care

Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill

Baroness Hodge of Barking Excerpts
Wednesday 7th September 2011

(13 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nadine Dorries Portrait Nadine Dorries
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The hon. Gentleman is a man of great conviction and, I think, a lay preacher, and we all respect and honour his views. However, the amendment is not about the unborn child; it is about the woman accessing counselling.

Baroness Hodge of Barking Portrait Margaret Hodge (Barking) (Lab)
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Will the hon. Lady give way?

Nadine Dorries Portrait Nadine Dorries
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No, I want to continue for a bit longer.

The diagnosis of pregnancy happens very quickly. One can buy a pregnancy testing kit for £1. It is possible that the reason some women suffer distress following an abortion is that they can be tested before they have even missed their first period. For some women, that is fantastic and they go straight for an abortion when they find out. For others, however, it all happens so quickly that they can be aborted by the time they are seven or eight weeks pregnant, and then afterwards, when the pressure has gone and the coercion has disappeared, they realise—