Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to clarify the law on abortion for the purpose of gender selection; and if he will make a statement.

The Government has consistently stated that abortion on the grounds of gender alone is illegal and repeated this in new guidance entitled Guidance in Relation to Requirements of the Abortion Act 1967 - for all those responsible for commissioning, providing and managing services provision which was published on 23 May this year. All independent providers are required to adhere to this guidance as part of their licensing conditions. A copy of this guidance is attached.