Lords clarify limit for abortion is 24 weeks

BARONESS O’Loan has set up an online petition against the reform of the abortion law here, because it will mean abortion is “permissible up to 28 weeks” and she says: “When I asked the question in the House of Lords ... they couldn’t answer” (News, October 1).

But the televised Lords debate and written record give a different account. I quote from this record:

Lord Duncan of Springbank (Parliamentary Undersecretary NIO): “I was asked a question about abortions at 24 weeks. We can guarantee that no abortions will be carried out over 24 weeks.”

Baroness O’Loan: “Under the Criminal Justice Act (NI) 1945, it would be a limit of 24 weeks? Is that what wassaid?”

Lord Duncan: “Yes.” (Record of the Lord’s debate on Amendment 12 NI Executive Formation Bill 17/07/2019).

Surely, this exchange acts as a precedent for any interpretation of the new law, since it unambiguously articulates the intention behind the legislation?

If this is the case, then the often-repeated claim that the legislation will allow abortion up to 28 weeks is false. The claim has been made in almost every piece of ‘anti-choice’ literature and letters published here in opposition to the legislation.

Many people maybe against abortion at 28 weeks, but not at 24 weeks (when only 2% of abortions occur), or less than 20 weeks, when 98% of abortions occur, or less than 12 weeks where 80% occur.

OBSERVER

Coleraine, Co Londonderry