Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2020 to Question 6069, what steps he will take to prevent sex selective abortion under the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No 2) Regulations 2020.
Answered by Robin Walker
An abortion on the grounds of sex-selection is not one of the lawful grounds for a termination of pregnancy under the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.
The UK Government takes any suggestion of sex-selective abortion seriously and has conducted a careful study of the data in GB which shows no evidence that it has been taking place.
Data collection and publication on abortion related issues in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Department of Health in Northern Ireland to take forward.
Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to ensure that the new abortion regulations for Northern Ireland do not go further than those laid out in section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
Answered by Julian Smith
We have now finished a six-week consultation on the proposals for the new framework that would provide lawful access to abortion services in Northern Ireland, consistent with what is required under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019 - and the recommendations of the 2018 UN CEDAW Report.
This consultation provided an opportunity for the people in Northern Ireland and relevant organisations to properly provide input and views on the question of how we can best deliver a proposal that is consistent with what is required under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019.
We welcomed the submissions received particularly from health professionals, statutory bodies and people with lived experience in Northern Ireland - and appreciate all of those that have taken the time to engage with the consultation.
We will now be carefully analysing the submissions received, and ensuring that the views received are reflected in the Government’s response, and inform the final framework that will be provided for in the regulations.
Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on women's safety and well-being in Northern Ireland of the change in law on abortion and the risk that abortion services could be provided by an individual without a medical qualification outside a hospital or abortion clinic.
Answered by Julian Smith
The health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, is at the forefront of the Government’s approach in complying with the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
On 7 October 2019, I published guidance on gov.uk/nio on the framework in place during the interim period which aims to provide clarity on the abortion law in Northern Ireland, including on medicine legislation in relation to abortion.
While the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland took effect on 22 October 2019, repealing criminal offences specifically relating to procuring abortion does not repeal other relevant criminal laws that exist to protect individuals. For instance, it will remain a criminal offence for anyone to assist or wilfully act to ‘destroy the life of a child then capable of being born alive’, except where the purpose is to preserve the life of the mother ‘in good faith’.
We do not expect there to be any additional services available ahead of the new legal framework being in place by 31 March 2020. Existing medical procedures are and will continue to be carefully regulated, and must be carried out by qualified health professionals in regulated premises with appropriate quality and care oversight.
Ahead of the new legal framework from 31 March 2020, women and girls resident in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to access services in England, with all costs of the procedure, including travel and, where needed, accommodation, being paid for from 22 October 2019.
The Government recognises there are a range of sensitive policy issues that will need to be carefully worked, which is why we will be consulting on the new proposed framework shortly.
Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what legislation covers abortions carried out in Northern Ireland during pregnancies up to the point of viability of an unborn child.
Answered by Julian Smith
The health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, is at the forefront of the Government’s approach in complying with the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
On 7 October 2019, I published guidance on gov.uk/nio on the framework in place during the interim period which aims to provide clarity on the abortion law in Northern Ireland, including on medicine legislation in relation to abortion.
While the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland took effect on 22 October 2019, repealing criminal offences specifically relating to procuring abortion does not repeal other relevant criminal laws that exist to protect individuals. For instance, it will remain a criminal offence for anyone to assist or wilfully act to ‘destroy the life of a child then capable of being born alive’, except where the purpose is to preserve the life of the mother ‘in good faith’.
We do not expect there to be any additional services available ahead of the new legal framework being in place by 31 March 2020. Existing medical procedures are and will continue to be carefully regulated, and must be carried out by qualified health professionals in regulated premises with appropriate quality and care oversight.
Ahead of the new legal framework from 31 March 2020, women and girls resident in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to access services in England, with all costs of the procedure, including travel and, where needed, accommodation, being paid for from 22 October 2019.
The Government recognises there are a range of sensitive policy issues that will need to be carefully worked, which is why we will be consulting on the new proposed framework shortly.
Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government has taken to prevent an unqualified individual from providing abortion services in Northern Ireland from 22 October 2019 to 31 March 2020.
Answered by Julian Smith
The health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, is at the forefront of the Government’s approach in complying with the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
On 7 October 2019, I published guidance on gov.uk/nio on the framework in place during the interim period which aims to provide clarity on the abortion law in Northern Ireland, including on medicine legislation in relation to abortion.
While the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland took effect on 22 October 2019, repealing criminal offences specifically relating to procuring abortion does not repeal other relevant criminal laws that exist to protect individuals. For instance, it will remain a criminal offence for anyone to assist or wilfully act to ‘destroy the life of a child then capable of being born alive’, except where the purpose is to preserve the life of the mother ‘in good faith’.
We do not expect there to be any additional services available ahead of the new legal framework being in place by 31 March 2020. Existing medical procedures are and will continue to be carefully regulated, and must be carried out by qualified health professionals in regulated premises with appropriate quality and care oversight.
Ahead of the new legal framework from 31 March 2020, women and girls resident in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to access services in England, with all costs of the procedure, including travel and, where needed, accommodation, being paid for from 22 October 2019.
The Government recognises there are a range of sensitive policy issues that will need to be carefully worked, which is why we will be consulting on the new proposed framework shortly.
Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate the Government has made of the potential number of abortions in Northern Ireland by unregulated practitioners between 22 October 2019 and 31 March 2020 due to the lack of a legal framework.
Answered by Julian Smith
The health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, is at the forefront of the Government’s approach in complying with the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
On 7 October 2019, I published guidance on gov.uk/nio on the framework in place during the interim period which aims to provide clarity on the abortion law in Northern Ireland, including on medicine legislation in relation to abortion.
While the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland took effect on 22 October 2019, repealing criminal offences specifically relating to procuring abortion does not repeal other relevant criminal laws that exist to protect individuals. For instance, it will remain a criminal offence for anyone to assist or wilfully act to ‘destroy the life of a child then capable of being born alive’, except where the purpose is to preserve the life of the mother ‘in good faith’.
We do not expect there to be any additional services available ahead of the new legal framework being in place by 31 March 2020. Existing medical procedures are and will continue to be carefully regulated, and must be carried out by qualified health professionals in regulated premises with appropriate quality and care oversight.
Ahead of the new legal framework from 31 March 2020, women and girls resident in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to access services in England, with all costs of the procedure, including travel and, where needed, accommodation, being paid for from 22 October 2019.
The Government recognises there are a range of sensitive policy issues that will need to be carefully worked, which is why we will be consulting on the new proposed framework shortly.
Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to which legislation his Department has applied the Family Test, published in August 2014.
Answered by Chloe Smith
It is our assessment that no legislation taken forward by the Northern Ireland Office since August 2014 has required the application of the Family Test by the UK Government.
The Government is committed to supporting families. To achieve this, in 2014 we introduced the Family Test, which aims to ensure that impacts on family relationships and functioning are recognised early on during the process of policy development and help inform the policy decisions made by Ministers. The Family Test was not designed to be a ‘tick-box’ exercise, and as such there is no requirement for departments to publish the results of assessments made under the Family Test.
Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2017 to Question HL3576, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen families.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Many of the policy areas linked to strengthening families in Northern Ireland are devolved matters. The UK Government is, though, helping families with the everyday cost of living by keeping taxes low, including taking 31,000 people in Northern Ireland out of paying income tax altogether (compared to 2015-16), freezing fuel duty for the eight successive year and increasing the National Living Wage again from April 2018, delivering a £600 annual pay-rise to full-time workers in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Fiona Bruce (Conservative - Congleton)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to help strengthen the economy of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The Government’s long term economic plan to strengthen the economy is delivering for the UK and for Northern Ireland.
By cutting the deficit, reducing business taxes and encouraging investment in enterprise and innovation we are making Northern Ireland a more competitive and attractive place to do business.