Take Action! Contact your MP using either the templates from Abortion Rights or FPA to urge them to oppose these amendments.
According to media reports, in a reversal of their previous position, the government will now not support a backbench MP’s proposals that may lead to increased involvement of anti-abortion groups in providing counselling services to women seeking abortions. This decision has been cautiously welcomed by the British Humanist Association (BHA), who have today briefed MPs in the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group ahead of next week’s debate on the amendments, and restated ‘The vital importance of protecting a woman’s right to choose, and prevent state-funded abortion advice and counselling services being hijacked by religious groups with an anti-abortion agenda.’
The House of Commons will debate the Health and Social Care Bill on 6th and 7th September, in which amendments by Nadine Dorries MP are likely to be discussed. These amendments aim to prevent groups that provide abortion services from offering advice and information – a move that would end the majority of pro-choice counselling services, leaving often religious anti-choice groups as their likely replacements. The government had previously stated that they would seek to change regulations in order to cause a similar effect to the amendments, but reports suggest they will now instead simply consult on changes – and ministers will vote against the amendments.
Commenting on the media reports, BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson said, ‘While we welcome the government’s reassurances that they will not support any move that would prevent abortion providers from giving counselling, we still have considerable reservations regarding reports that the government is to consult on revising the guidelines on counselling, and we continue to urge MPs to oppose Nadine Dorries MP’s amendments next week.
‘Abortion providers are already legally obliged to provide non-directional counselling and advice services to aid women in reaching the correct decision for themselves. We are strongly opposed to any move that would increase the involvement of ideologically motivated religious groups who are seeking to promote their own agenda rather than the best interests of the women they are advising, and as such would prefer to see the situation left unchanged.’
Notes
For further comment or information, please contact Andrew Copson on 020 7079 3583.
Read the Health and Social Care Bill amendments tabled by Nadine Dorries
Read the BHA’s briefing to MPs on the amendments
Read the news articles in the BBC, Guardian, Telegraph
The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.