Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 23 October (HLWS190) announcing further support for women from Northern Ireland seeking an abortion in England, what assessment they have made of the finding in the report by the Care Quality Commission, published in December 2016, that several clinics operated by Marie Stopes International were in serious breach of safety guidelines; and what steps they will take to ensure that women attending those clinics receive safe abortions.

Marie Stopes International (MSI) are continuing to take a range of actions to address the issues identified in the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) reports. The CQC re-inspected MSI earlier this year and have made clear that they will not hesitate to take further action, if necessary, in order to guarantee MSI meets the standard of care they expect and that its patients deserve.

The Department continues to monitor the situation with particular regard being had to the statutory approval responsibilities of the Secretary of State.