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.
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.
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.