§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the impartiality of the review committee on the recent Royal College of Gynaecology guidelines The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion is affected by the presence of seven representatives from organisations affiliated to or otherwise associated with the abortion reform lobby group Voice of Choice; and [HL1643]
Whether the impartiality of the guideline group on the recent Royal College of Gynaecology guidelines The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion is affected by the presence of three representatives affiliated to or otherwise associated with the abortion reform lobby group Voice of Choice. [HL1644]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe impartiality of the Royal College of Obstetricians and GynaecologistsNational evidence-based clinical guideline on the care of women requesting induced abortion was ensured by its production method. The guideline was prepared using an accepted methodology based upon a thorough and systematic literature search. The recommendations were graded according to the level of evidence, using a scheme recommended by the National Health Service Executive. There was also formal peer review of the document and appraisal by the Health Care Evaluation Unit at St George's Hospital, which has been commissioned by the NHS Executive to appraise such guidelines.