Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will undertake an evidence-based review into the association with and effect of abortion on the psychological and mental health of women that draws on (a) UK and (b) international research; and if he will make a statement.

A systematic review of induced abortion and mental health was published in 2011. The review was undertaken by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health and funded by the Department. The review concluded that having an abortion does not increase the risk of mental health problems. There are no plans to commission further work in this area.