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1314753

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2021
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the (a) recommendations of the report by the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) on abortion law in Northern Ireland and (b) majority judgments of the Supreme Court in In the matter of an application by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland) [2018] UKSC 27.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	1274
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>We recognise that access to abortion services is an emotive and sensitive issue for many. In July 2019, Parliament imposed on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 to ensure all of the CEDAW recommendations are implemented in Northern Ireland. This is a matter of domestic, not international, law.</p><p> </p><p>The devolution settlement does not absolve us of our responsibility to uphold the rights of women and girls, given the duty in section 9 of the EF Act did not fall away with the restoration of the Executive, nor with the making of the initial regulations that came into force on 31 March 2020.</p><p> </p><p>While we made the Regulations last March providing the framework for access to abortions, and some service provision commenced, this has not discharged those legal duties in full. We carefully considered the views and evidence presented through the consultation - including those who took the time to share individual, and often deeply personal experiences, to help shape the final framework for Northern Ireland. The CEDAW Report and recommendations require that evidence based protocols are adopted in terms of provision of services in Northern Ireland, and we took particular account of the views and evidence provided by experts and medical professionals, alongside the views of other respondents in making decisions on the final proposals. We considered the range of views in light of our legal obligations, and took evidenced based decisions, in order to bring forward a new legislative framework that is operationally sound, works best for Northern Ireland and that delivers on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland’s duty. To this end, we developed an abortion framework that provides access to services consistent with what the CEDAW Report and the section 9 duty require.</p><p> </p><p>We consider the Regulations to also be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and we are confident that the legal framework put in place, and the ongoing efforts to ensure the CEDAW recommendations are implemented, is lawful in light of case law and the statutory obligations imposed on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 24/05/2021 11:05:57 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1202110

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2020
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by the Minister of State for the Northern Ireland Office on 4 June (HC Deb, cols 1018–20), on what basis they were required to bring the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 to Parliament following the Northern Ireland Assembly’s vote against such regulations.
	tabling member printed	Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown
	uin	HL5468
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>In accordance with the duty placed on the Government under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019, regulations are now in place to make provision for accessing abortions in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>The Northern Ireland Assembly has not opposed the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The debate in the Assembly on 2 June 2020 was focused on one aspect of those regulations, severe fetal impairment, and does not have any binding effects on the Regulations we have made.</p><p> </p><p>The Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 have now been debated in both Houses of Parliament as required under the ‘made affirmative’ procedure and approved by the House of the Lords. The House of Commons will today vote on the Regulations to approve them to remain in force as the law on access to abortion in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>As abortion remains a devolved issue in Northern Ireland, the Assembly remains able to legislate on abortion, subject to the usual Assembly and other procedures, including compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. The UK Government will continue to ensure we abide by our domestic and international legal obligations.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 17/06/2020 15:57:44 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	655 label Biography information for Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown

1149913

	registered interest
	date	16/10/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Abortion and Marriage: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to (a) reform abortion laws and (b) extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	1097
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government plans to have regulations in place on abortion law and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland by the dates stipulated in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019. Given the Northern Ireland Executive was not restored by 21 October 2019, the Government is therefore under a legal duty to comply with sections 8 and 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019 to:</p><p> </p><p>a) bring forward regulations to enable same-sex marriage and opposite-sex civil partnerships in Northern Ireland by 13 January 2020; and</p><p> </p><p>b) bring forward regulations for a new legal framework for abortion to be in place in Northern Ireland by 31 March 2020.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Skipton and Ripon answering member printed Julian Smith question first answered 24/10/2019 11:30:51 answering member 4118 label Biography information for Julian Smith
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1144852

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Abortion: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with pro-life groups in Northern Ireland on the legislation to decriminalise abortion in Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Lagan Valley
	tabling member printed	Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson
	uin	286661
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">There are a range of sensitive policy issues to carefully work through in order to deliver regulations to provide access to abortion services in Northern Ireland by 31 March 2020 in Northern Ireland. This duty will come into effect if the Northern Ireland Executive is not restored by 21 October 2019. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Government officials including from the NIO have met some representatives of the medical profession and other stakeholders and will continue to do so in the weeks ahead.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">There will also be a period of consultation throughout this process for individuals in Northern Ireland as well as relevant organisations to provide input and views. I will continue to keep the House updated on these plans at the appropriate opportunities through the Executive Formation Act reporting requirements.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Government's preference remains seeing the Stormont institutions back up and running so they can take forward any issues of reform on these types of sensitive devolved issues, as a matter of priority.</ins></p> answering member constituency Skipton and Ripon answering member printed Julian Smith question first answered 09/09/2019 16:56:41 question first ministerially corrected 02/10/2019 16:30:30 answering member 4118 label Biography information for Julian Smith previous answer version 135690 answering member constituency Skipton and Ripon answering member printed Julian Smith answering member 4118 label Biography information for Julian Smith
	tabling member	650 label Biography information for Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson

1150563

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Abortion: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what legal protections in place between 22 October 2019 and 31 March 2020 to protect health professionals in Northern Ireland that have a conscientious objection to abortion.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	1554
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2019 answer text <p>I published guidance for health professionals on 7 October 2019 on gov.uk/nio that sets out the changes to the law on access to abortion services for healthcare professionals and what this means for them in relation to their patients during the interim period.</p><p> </p><p>No healthcare professionals will be compelled to provide services, other than treatment which is necessary to save the life of the woman or girl, or to prevent grave permanent injury to her physical or mental health. In the interim period (prior to the legal framework coming into force by 31 March 2020) if a healthcare professional has a conscientious objection to abortion, they can raise this with their employer and follow relevant guidance from their professional body.</p><p> </p><p>We will be shortly consulting on the new legal framework. We will continue engaging with healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland to ensure that the legal abortion provisions can also be accompanied by professional guidance and professional standards of practice to assist healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland to clearly understand their legal rights, obligations and duties from 31 March 2020.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Skipton and Ripon answering member printed Julian Smith question first answered 25/10/2019 13:59:02 answering member 4118 label Biography information for Julian Smith
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1150637

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Abortion: Northern Ireland
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure that women's safety and well-being are protected should decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland lead to unregulated abortions.
	tabling member printed	Baroness O'Loan
	uin	HL213
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>The health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, is at the forefront of the Government’s approach in complying with the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.</p><p> </p><p>As the duty has now come into effect, there have been some immediate changes to the law in Northern Ireland. We do not expect there to be any additional services available ahead of the new legal framework being in place by 31 March 2020. It is important that we get the legal framework right and are confident that service provision in Northern Ireland can meet women and girls’ needs.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, women and girls resident in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to access services in England, with all costs of the procedure, including travel and, where needed, accommodation, being paid for from 22 October 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Healthcare professionals who have a conscientious objection should follow guidance from their professional body. We recognise that this is a sensitive issue, and consideration is being given to providing for conscientious objection in the new legal framework for access to abortion in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will be shortly consulting on this proposed framework.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank grouped question UIN HL214 HL215 question first answered 28/10/2019 15:58:58 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	3902 label Biography information for Baroness O'Loan

1150638

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Abortion: Northern Ireland
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what legal frameworks will be in place between 22 October 2019 and 31 March 2020 to protect health professionals in Northern Ireland with a conscientious objection to abortion.
	tabling member printed	Baroness O'Loan
	uin	HL214
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>The health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, is at the forefront of the Government’s approach in complying with the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.</p><p> </p><p>As the duty has now come into effect, there have been some immediate changes to the law in Northern Ireland. We do not expect there to be any additional services available ahead of the new legal framework being in place by 31 March 2020. It is important that we get the legal framework right and are confident that service provision in Northern Ireland can meet women and girls’ needs.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, women and girls resident in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to access services in England, with all costs of the procedure, including travel and, where needed, accommodation, being paid for from 22 October 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Healthcare professionals who have a conscientious objection should follow guidance from their professional body. We recognise that this is a sensitive issue, and consideration is being given to providing for conscientious objection in the new legal framework for access to abortion in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will be shortly consulting on this proposed framework.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank grouped question UIN HL213 HL215 question first answered 28/10/2019 15:58:58 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	3902 label Biography information for Baroness O'Loan

1150639

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Abortion: Northern Ireland
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what the legal framework for abortion in Northern Ireland will be on 31 March 2020 if a majority of Northern Ireland voters state that they are opposed to new abortion legislation.
	tabling member printed	Baroness O'Loan
	uin	HL215
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>The health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, is at the forefront of the Government’s approach in complying with the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.</p><p> </p><p>As the duty has now come into effect, there have been some immediate changes to the law in Northern Ireland. We do not expect there to be any additional services available ahead of the new legal framework being in place by 31 March 2020. It is important that we get the legal framework right and are confident that service provision in Northern Ireland can meet women and girls’ needs.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, women and girls resident in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to access services in England, with all costs of the procedure, including travel and, where needed, accommodation, being paid for from 22 October 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Healthcare professionals who have a conscientious objection should follow guidance from their professional body. We recognise that this is a sensitive issue, and consideration is being given to providing for conscientious objection in the new legal framework for access to abortion in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will be shortly consulting on this proposed framework.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank grouped question UIN HL213 HL214 question first answered 28/10/2019 15:58:58 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	3902 label Biography information for Baroness O'Loan

1151565

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Abortion: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on women's safety and well-being in Northern Ireland of the change in law on abortion and the risk that abortion services could be provided by an individual without a medical qualification outside a hospital or abortion clinic.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	3752
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>The health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, is at the forefront of the Government’s approach in complying with the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.</p><p> </p><p>On 7 October 2019, I published guidance on gov.uk/nio on the framework in place during the interim period which aims to provide clarity on the abortion law in Northern Ireland, including on medicine legislation in relation to abortion.</p><p> </p><p>While the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland took effect on 22 October 2019, repealing criminal offences specifically relating to procuring abortion does not repeal other relevant criminal laws that exist to protect individuals. For instance, it will remain a criminal offence for anyone to assist or wilfully act to ‘destroy the life of a child then capable of being born alive’, except where the purpose is to preserve the life of the mother ‘in good faith’.</p><p>We do not expect there to be any additional services available ahead of the new legal framework being in place by 31 March 2020. Existing medical procedures are and will continue to be carefully regulated, and must be carried out by qualified health professionals in regulated premises with appropriate quality and care oversight.</p><p> </p><p>Ahead of the new legal framework from 31 March 2020, women and girls resident in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to access services in England, with all costs of the procedure, including travel and, where needed, accommodation, being paid for from 22 October 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises there are a range of sensitive policy issues that will need to be carefully worked, which is why we will be consulting on the new proposed framework shortly.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Skipton and Ripon answering member printed Julian Smith grouped question UIN 3753 3758 3760 question first answered 28/10/2019 11:25:25 answering member 4118 label Biography information for Julian Smith
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

1151566

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	answering body	Northern Ireland Office
	answering dept id	21
	answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
	answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
	hansard heading	Abortion: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate the Government has made of the potential number of abortions in Northern Ireland by unregulated practitioners between 22 October 2019 and 31 March 2020 due to the lack of a legal framework.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	3753
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/10/2019 answer text <p>The health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, is at the forefront of the Government’s approach in complying with the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.</p><p> </p><p>On 7 October 2019, I published guidance on gov.uk/nio on the framework in place during the interim period which aims to provide clarity on the abortion law in Northern Ireland, including on medicine legislation in relation to abortion.</p><p> </p><p>While the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland took effect on 22 October 2019, repealing criminal offences specifically relating to procuring abortion does not repeal other relevant criminal laws that exist to protect individuals. For instance, it will remain a criminal offence for anyone to assist or wilfully act to ‘destroy the life of a child then capable of being born alive’, except where the purpose is to preserve the life of the mother ‘in good faith’.</p><p>We do not expect there to be any additional services available ahead of the new legal framework being in place by 31 March 2020. Existing medical procedures are and will continue to be carefully regulated, and must be carried out by qualified health professionals in regulated premises with appropriate quality and care oversight.</p><p> </p><p>Ahead of the new legal framework from 31 March 2020, women and girls resident in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to access services in England, with all costs of the procedure, including travel and, where needed, accommodation, being paid for from 22 October 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises there are a range of sensitive policy issues that will need to be carefully worked, which is why we will be consulting on the new proposed framework shortly.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Skipton and Ripon answering member printed Julian Smith grouped question UIN 3752 3758 3760 question first answered 28/10/2019 11:25:25 answering member 4118 label Biography information for Julian Smith
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce