Abortion: Misoprostol

Baroness Taylor of Bolton Excerpts
Tuesday 20th March 2018

(6 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord O'Shaughnessy Portrait Lord O'Shaughnessy
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am not aware of any research, but I shall ask the department to see if there is any. If there is, I shall write to the noble Baroness.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton Portrait Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Lab)
- Hansard - -

My Lords, if the information we have just had is correct that more women, especially young women, are buying abortion drugs online, surely that proves the point that we need to improve the abortion services that we have within the NHS and the advice that is given to young women.

Lord O'Shaughnessy Portrait Lord O'Shaughnessy
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

No, I do not think it proves that. The fact that illegal drugs of all kinds are being bought online, whether they are illegal drugs or prescription drugs bought illegally, is a feature of modern life. Rates of abortion in the under-18s are falling, as is the teenage pregnancy and conception rate. Those are separate issues.