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Written Question
Abortion: Northern Ireland
Monday 18th May 2020

Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of exercising his powers under section 26 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to direct the Department of Health in Northern Ireland to commission services to comply with section 9 of the Northern Ireland Executive Formation Act 2019; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Robin Walker

In accordance with section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019, regulations are now in place to make provision for accessing abortions in Northern Ireland.

I am pleased that some service provision has commenced on the ground in Northern Ireland through existing sexual and reproductive health services during this uncertain time.

I recognise the strain on the Northern Ireland health system at present. The Government stands ready to provide whatever support we can to the Department of Health in Northern Ireland to commission full abortion services, in line with the new legislative framework, as soon as possible. Consequently, no assessment has been made of exercising powers under section 26 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

Written Question
Abortion: Northern Ireland
Wednesday 30th October 2019

Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the consultation on section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 will be launched; and what the terms of the consultation will be.

Answered by Julian Smith

The Government believes that a period of consultation on the issues of abortion law in Northern Ireland is the right thing to do, given the range of sensitive policy issues that need to be carefully worked through. We will be looking to shortly launch a consultation on the proposed new legal framework to be in place by 31 March 2020.

The consultation will focus on how we can deliver the proposed new legislative framework for Northern Ireland, consistent with the recommendations in the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women Report, Inquiry concerning the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland under article 8 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to deliver on the statutory duty in section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.

Written Question
Human Rights: Northern Ireland
Monday 28th October 2019

Asked by: Stella Creasy (Labour (Co-op) - Walthamstow)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the provision in paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, enables the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to consider (a) human rights cases in its own name under sections 3 and 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and (b) alleged breaches of Convention rights in relation to primary legislation.

Answered by Julian Smith

Yes, it is the intention that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be able to bring human rights cases in its own name to challenge alleged incompatible acts or legislation under the Human Rights Act 1998.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Oct 2019
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019

"I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way because he has raised this issue before. Let me try to be helpful to the Secretary of State by referring to the guidance that he has issued about this very point. It is simply not the case that there are no regulations. …..."
Stella Creasy - View Speech

View all Stella Creasy (LAB - Walthamstow) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Oct 2019
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019

"I rise, as the Secretary of State might expect, to ask him another series of questions about the changes in the law regarding abortion in Northern Ireland, which he knows I feel very strongly about. This Act compelled the Secretary of State to act—from start to finish. A week ago, …..."
Stella Creasy - View Speech

View all Stella Creasy (LAB - Walthamstow) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Oct 2019
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019

"I completely agree. What I am saying, therefore, is that the Secretary of State now has a responsibility to the women and girls in Northern Ireland who wish to be able to access this right to make sure that there is clarity about where they can get abortion pills prescribed …..."
Stella Creasy - View Speech

View all Stella Creasy (LAB - Walthamstow) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 09 Sep 2019
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 Section 3(2)

"All Members in this Chamber would like to see the Stormont Assembly restored, but we tabled these self-executing clauses because we recognised that the human rights of the people of Northern Ireland should not be abandoned in the face of political indecision. It now falls on us to hold the …..."
Stella Creasy - View Speech

View all Stella Creasy (LAB - Walthamstow) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 Section 3(2)
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Jul 2019
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill

"It is a genuine pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert), and I agree with every word he said.

I will be proud to vote today for new clause 1 in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for St Helens North …..."
Stella Creasy - View Speech

View all Stella Creasy (LAB - Walthamstow) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Jul 2019
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill

"I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising those issues, which are myths that need to be dispelled, although I understand his concerns. The CEDAW report talks about the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, which is why a woman who is raped in Northern Ireland and seeks a termination after …..."
Stella Creasy - View Speech

View all Stella Creasy (LAB - Walthamstow) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 09 Jul 2019
Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill

"Thank you, Dame Rosie.

It is simply not the case that people have not been prosecuted. A mother is facing a jail sentence in November. We know that, in 2017, a man and woman accepted formal cautions under OPA for the same offence, and the charges were withdrawn only after …..."
Stella Creasy - View Speech

View all Stella Creasy (LAB - Walthamstow) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill