Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the use of buffer zones outside NHS hospitals where abortions are carried out.

While peaceful protest is a vital part of our democratic society, there is a balance to be struck between the rights of those who wish to peacefully protest and the rights of others, such as clinic staff and patients, to go about their business free from harassment and intimidation.

The law provides protection against harassment and intimidation and the police have a range of powers to manage protests. The use of these powers are an operational matter for the police.