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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

1156443

	registered interest
	date	25/10/2019
	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, when the consultation on section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 will be launched; and what the terms of the consultation will be.
	tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
	tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
	uin	5439
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government believes that a period of consultation on the issues of abortion law in Northern Ireland is the right thing to do, given the range of sensitive policy issues that need to be carefully worked through. We will be looking to shortly launch a consultation on the proposed new legal framework to be in place by 31 March 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation will focus on how we can deliver the proposed new legislative framework for Northern Ireland, consistent with the recommendations in the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women Report, <em>Inquiry concerning the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland under article 8 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women</em>, to deliver on the statutory duty in section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.</p> answering member constituency Skipton and Ripon answering member printed Julian Smith question first answered 30/10/2019 15:41:00 answering member 4118 label Biography information for Julian Smith
	tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1171511

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to ensure that the new abortion regulations for Northern Ireland do not go further than those laid out in section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Congleton
	tabling member printed	Fiona Bruce
	uin	4331
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>We have now finished a six-week consultation on the proposals for the new framework that would provide lawful access to abortion services in Northern Ireland, consistent with what is required under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019 - and the recommendations of the 2018 UN CEDAW Report.</p><p> </p><p>This consultation provided an opportunity for the people in Northern Ireland and relevant organisations to properly provide input and views on the question of how we can best deliver a proposal that is consistent with what is required under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019.</p><p> </p><p>We welcomed the submissions received particularly from health professionals, statutory bodies and people with lived experience in Northern Ireland - and appreciate all of those that have taken the time to engage with the consultation.</p><p> </p><p>We will now be carefully analysing the submissions received, and ensuring that the views received are reflected in the Government’s response, and inform the final framework that will be provided for in the regulations.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Skipton and Ripon answering member printed Julian Smith question first answered 21/01/2020 15:28:31 answering member 4118 label Biography information for Julian Smith
	tabling member	3958 label Biography information for Fiona Bruce

1172217

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what counselling services will be made available to women in Northern Ireland seeking an abortion following the introduction of the new regulatory framework on abortion on 31 March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	Carla Lockhart
	uin	6151
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2020 answer text <p>In delivering on its legal duty to provide lawful access to abortion services in Northern Ireland, the Government has been clear that we want to ensure we are delivering in a way that works best for Northern Ireland - which is why we consulted on the proposals for the new legislative framework. The consultation provided an opportunity for the people in Northern Ireland and relevant organisations to properly provide input and views on the question of how we can best deliver services that are consistent with what is required under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019.</p><p>We are carefully considering the consultation responses, and ensuring that the views received are reflected in the Government’s response, and inform the final framework that will be provided for in the regulations. We are also continuing to work closely with the healthcare profession, and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland who will oversee the framework’s delivery model and the operational readiness of services. In developing this work, the health and safety of women and girls, and clarity and certainty for the medical profession, remain at the forefront of the Government’s consideration.</p> answering member constituency Skipton and Ripon answering member printed Julian Smith question first answered 24/01/2020 12:05:10 answering member 4118 label Biography information for Julian Smith
	tabling member	4857 label Biography information for Carla Lockhart

1172218

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which stakeholder groups he has met to discuss proposals for a new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland.
	tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
	tabling member printed	Carla Lockhart
	uin	6152
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2020 answer text <p>In consulting on the proposals for a new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Office officials have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders. These groups include the Northern Ireland Department of Health, healthcare professionals, the all-Ireland church leaders group, abortion sector care providers, trade unions and civil society organisations; as well meeting with individuals who have been affected by the law.</p><p>The Northern Ireland Office will continue to consult with stakeholders to properly provide input and views on the question of how we can best deliver the new legal framework for abortion services is developed.</p> answering member constituency Skipton and Ripon answering member printed Julian Smith question first answered 24/01/2020 12:06:51 answering member 4118 label Biography information for Julian Smith
	tabling member	4857 label Biography information for Carla Lockhart

1182907

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2020
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to place a copy in the Library of the House of the report on the consultation on abortion law conducted by the Northern Ireland Office in November and December 2019.
	tabling member printed	Baroness O'Loan
	uin	HL2230
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2020 answer text <p>I can confirm that the Government will shortly publish its response to the consultation ‘A new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland: Implementation of the legal duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019’.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will also shortly lay before Parliament regulations providing for lawful access to abortion services in Northern Ireland, consistent with what is required under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 11/03/2020 15:52:46 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	3902 label Biography information for Baroness O'Loan