§ 14. Fiona Mactaggart (Slough)What plans he has to review waiting times for NHS abortions.[102275]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Yvette Cooper)The Government are funding the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to undertake an audit of NHS and independent sector abortion services, including information on waiting times.
664 The early findings from that audit will inform the Government's sexual health strategy, which is currently under development.
§ Fiona MactaggartI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Is she aware that a recent survey conducted by the Abortion Law Reform Association revealed that the most common reason for women to seek private terminations was unacceptable delays in the NHS? The survey showed that about half the health authorities set or monitor targets for waiting times for terminations. Will she consider the establishment, within the evidence-based framework produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, of a target waiting time of 14 to 21 days? Will she ensure that that target is monitored so that women can have access to abortion on the NHS?
§ Yvette CooperI am aware of the survey to which my hon. Friend refers. I assure her that the Government take the matter extremely seriously. I further assure her that the sexual health strategy will consider those issues; it will consider access to all services and how to ensure equity. The report will be produced during the next year.
§ Mrs. Maria Fyfe (Glasgow, Maryhill)Has my hon. Friend noticed the existence of an organisation called Precious Life? Thus far, the organisation has confined its activities to Northern Ireland and Scotland. It has attempted to intimidate workers in clinics and now threatens to picket the homes of Ministers of the Scottish Parliament. Does my hon. Friend agree with the Minister for Health and Community Care in the Scottish Parliament that any activities that attempt to prevent people from carrying out lawful functions will be met with the full force of the law?
§ Yvette CooperI can certainly confirm that the Government condemn any form of intimidation that prevents the full operation of the law.