§ 10. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation for the reform and modernisation of the law on abortion.
§ Miss BaconMy right hon. and learned Friend is keeping the matter under review but he regrets that he can hold out no prospect of early Government legislation.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes my hon. Friend recognise that the present barbarous law is held in contempt, is widely abused or ignored and very often results in very painful mutilation and death? Since several Members of the Government are on record as wanting this highly desirable reform, may I ask whether my hon. Friend would give an undertaking that the Government will provide time for treatment of this Measure in the same way as they have given time for the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Bill?
§ Miss BaconMy right hon. and learned Friend and I recently met a deputation from the Abortion Law Reform Association, which put to us all the matters which have just been put to me by my hon. Friend. I agree that this is a very important subject which arouses a great deal of interest. I repeat, everything put to us by the Abortion Law Reform Association is being studied most carefully, but I could not, of course, say anything about whether or not, or when, a Bill would be introduced.
§ Mr. CarlisleDoes the Minister realise that the proposals put forward by the Abortion Law Reform Association were extremely moderate and would have a great welcome from both sides of the House?
§ Miss BaconYes, Sir. I realise that there is support for this on both sides 720 of the House, and this is one of the things which we will take into consideration when looking at all the important problems which were put to us by this deputation.