Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he last amended his Department's guidelines on the authorising of abortions; and if he will make a statement.

The Chief Medical Officer for England has written twice (on 23 February 2012 and 22 November 2013) to all medical practitioners reminding them of their responsibilities under the Abortion Act.

The Department will be providing further guidance to all those involved in providing abortion care on compliance with the Act; this will be published shortly.