Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures are in place to ensure that the Abortion Regulations 1991 are properly enforced; and what disciplinary processes may be implemented for violations of those Regulations.

Section 2 of the Abortion Act 1967 and the Abortion Regulations in respect of England, require all Registered Medical Practitioners terminating a pregnancy to give notice in form HSA4 to the Chief Medical Officer within 14 days of the procedure. Information on how many forms were submitted late in each of the last five years is not routinely recorded. However, when a form is received 14 days after the date of termination, officials send a letter to the terminating doctor reminding them of their legal obligations. Wilful non-compliance with the notification requirements is a criminal offence and would be reported to the police to investigate.