Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to investigate any differences in abortion rates between black women and other ethnic groups in Britain, and (2) to assess the impact of any differences on the black British community.

The Department has commissioned the King’s Fund to undertake a piece of work to provide insights into factors contributing to changing patterns of abortion uptake in England. The findings from this work will help inform the development of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, which will consider how inequalities in relation to all groups, including black women and other ethnic groups, can be addressed.

The Department has also launched a three-month consultation on whether to make permanent the current temporary measure allowing for home use of both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks gestation for all eligible women. This includes a specific question on how making permanent home use of both pills could have a differential impact on groups of people or communities and we welcome feedback from anyone with an interest or view on this subject, including black women and those from other ethnic groups.