Health Services And Terminations Of Pregnancy

EDM number 907 in 1989-90, proposed by Harriet Harman on 27/04/1990.

THat this House welcomes the fact that there is a broad consensus for a new legal framework for the grounds justifying a termination of pregnancy and the time limits beyond which termination of pregnancy cannot be carried out; notes that determined efforts should now be made to assist women to avoid unplanned pregnancies and therefore the need for abortion by better sex education in schools, a campaign of public information about family planning services, allowing greater choice in family planning services, stepping up general practitioners and nurse training in contraception, greater emphasis on contraceptive advice services for teenagers, and more resources for research on improved forms of contraception; further notes that the most effective way to avoid late abortion is to ensure that where abortion is necessary, delays are avoided; and calls on the Government to review general practitioners' referral for abortion and the availability of abortion services in the National Health Service with a commitment to reducing delays.

This motion has been signed by a total of 125 MPs, 4 of these signatures have been withdrawn.