Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government further to the answer by Earl Howe on 16 December 2014 (HL Deb, cols 101–2), what status the Guidance in Relation to the Requirements of the Abortion Act 1967 has, and whether abortion providers are legally required to comply with it.

When exercising power under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 to approve a place for the termination of pregnancy, the Secretary of State will only consider a provider if they undertake to comply with the Required Standard Operating Procedures which in turn require compliance with the Department’s guidance.