Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department's policy on emergency contraception is in line with the World Health Organization's position that emergency contraception is not considered to be an abortifacient and conscientious objection would therefore not apply in this instance.

The Department position is in line with that of the World Health Organization that any substance or device that prevents implantation is not an abortifacient. As emergency contraception is not a method of abortion, the conscientious objection exemption in the Abortion Act 1967 would not apply.