Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Minister in his Department has responsibility to make an assessment of the effect of the temporary measure to approve both sets of medication for early medical abortion to be taken at home during the covid-19 outbreak; when such information with be made available; and if he will make a statement.

Responsibility for abortion policy within the Department falls within my Ministerial portfolio.

The Department continues to closely monitor the impact of the temporary approval for women’s homes to be classed as a place where both sets of medication for early medical abortion can be taken up to 10 weeks gestation.

The Government has committed to undertake a public consultation on making permanent the COVID-19 measure allowing for home use of both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks gestation for all eligible women. Further details on the consultation will be available in due course.