Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the ability of abortion providers since March 2020 to ensure that women are in a private place during a remote consultation for medical abortion pills.

All providers must comply with legal requirements and follow statutory guidance relating to children, young people and vulnerable adults. Women who present for an abortion should s have the opportunity to speak privately to a trained health professional during the consultation.

We are considering evidence submitted to the Government’s public consultation on the temporary measure allowing home use of both pills for early medical abortion. The consultation sought feedback on the impact of the provision of abortion services in relation to safety, privacy and confidentiality of access, as well as the impacts on different groups or communities. We will publish our response in due course.