Abortion

Lord Popat Excerpts

Thursday 3rd April 2014 Grand Committee

[Lord Popat (Con)]

I am afraid the noble Lord’s name is not on the list.

[Lord Campbell-Savours]

It does not have to be. I am speaking in the gap.

[Lord Popat]

It happens that way in the Chamber, where we give four minutes, but not in the Grand Committee Room.

[Lord Campbell-Savours]

Would the Chairman permit me to speak in the gap?

--- Later in debate ---

[Earl Howe]

I shall copy all letters to all Peers who have spoken in the debate. My time is now running out but I know that concerns have been expressed, not least by the noble Lord, Lord Alton, about the way that foetal remains are sometimes disposed of. A recent investigation by the Channel 4 “Dispatches” programme examined this issue. The type of situations highlighted in the programme, where foetal remains were incinerated rather than buried or cremated in line with what the woman would have wanted, are totally unacceptable. Any such practices should cease immediately. A letter has gone to all trusts to make that point emphatically clear.

My noble friend Lady Bakewell asked about hospitals revealing the sex of the foetus at routine ultrasound scans. Disclosing the sex of a foetus is a local decision and should be based on clinical judgment about the certainty of the assessment and the individual circumstances of each case. It is not something that the Government can mandate from the centre.

My noble friend Lady Knight asked about the NHS not employing midwives who would not be willing to perform abortions. The Act allows professionals, including midwives, to opt out of participation in any treatment to which he or she has a conscientious objection. That conscientious objection should not be detrimental to the careers of health professionals. I think I am over my time.

[Lord Popat]

You have two more minutes.

[Earl Howe]

Sorry, I will carry on. The noble Lord, Lord Alton, made some powerful points about repeat abortions. We are working to reduce repeat abortions through promoting access to the most effective methods of contraception following abortion. Care pathways should be in place to contraceptive services following any abortion.

The noble Lord, Lord Hunt, asked about recording the sex of a foetus on the HSA4 form. We have no plans to record the sex of the foetus on the form. It is not usually possible to identify the sex of a baby until the second ultrasound scan, which takes place at around 18 to 21 weeks’ gestation. In 2012, nearly 98% of abortions were performed before 18 weeks’ gestation, so the gender of the foetus is not known for most abortions. I strongly agree with him that a challenge to attitudes and discrimination against women is a good thing. That is what our parliamentary system is based on. I will write to him further on that, as I will on the question of education.

I close by emphasising again that we are not complacent on these issues. We remain and will continue to be very vigilant.

[Lord Popat]

My Lords, I suggest we take a break for five minutes in view of the fact that we do not have all the speakers for the next debate.