Abortion (Sex-Selection) Bill

Lord Bishop of St Albans Excerpts

Tuesday 16th December 2014 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, our latest analysis of data by country of birth and ethnicity, which we have done for a second year running, found no evidence of sex selection taking place in the UK. Without exception, the wide variation in birth ratios was within the bounds expected. Any termination wilfully failing to meet the requirements of the Abortion Act will render those performing such procedures liable to prosecution under other legislation.

[The Lord Bishop of St Albans]

My Lords, given that many are concerned that we may not be protecting the most vulnerable in our society in this area, we need to understand the full extent of sex-selection abortion in this country, if indeed it is taking place. We need to collect and collate data. In the light of that, will the Minister tell the House what Her Majesty’s Government are doing to require the registration of the gender of foetuses using forms such as HSA4 or something similar so that we can actually have the evidence?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, we are not moving in that direction partly because it is frequently not possible to determine the sex of the foetus after an abortion.