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 08 October 2008 00:21 BST

MPs vote to keep 24-week abortion limit

Wednesday, 21 May 2008 12:41
MPs voted in the Commons to keep the 24-week abortion limit
MPs rejected calls to lower the abortion limit from 24 weeks to 20 last night in the Commons.

A campaign had been fought to lower the limit on the basis that medical research has advanced to the extent that babies born before 24 weeks have a greater chance of survival.

But a number of medical professionals and groups disputed this, saying babies have extremely small chances of surviving at this stage.

The vote came as part of attempts to update legislation on reproduction issues under the human fertilisation and embryology bill.

Sexual and reproductive group Marie Stopes welcomed the outcome, describing it as a "relief for women across the country".

"Having secured this victory for common sense, compassion towards women's needs and sound medical science, it's now time to look forward to the next stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill," said Marie Stopes International's head of advocacy, Anne Quesney.

"We expect to see progressive amendments introduced that will improve current legislation, not least the removal of the archaic requirement for two doctors to give permission before any abortion may be performed."

Family Planning Association (FPA) chief executive Julie Bentley said she is "delighted" MPs decided to maintain the current abortion limit.

"Cutting the time limit, even by a few weeks, would have directly contradicted medical and scientific evidence on fetal viability and would only have exacerbated the desperation of the small percentage of women needing later abortion. MPs have reached the right decision," she added.
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