Abortion (Hansard, 17 December 2001)

§ Dr. Gibson
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the start dates for those commissioning abortion services; and if he will monitor the process. [19451]

§ Jacqui Smith
From April 2002, primary care trusts will be able to commission abortion services, taking over the current role of health authorities. We will closely monitor any impact of this change, in particular the percentage of women accessing national health service funded abortions.
The sexual health and HIV strategy has set a target that from 2005, commissioners should ensure that women who meet the legal requirements have access to abortion within three weeks of the first appointment with the general practitioner or other referring doctor. An implementation plan for the strategy will be decided following the current consultation, which closes on 21 December. This will include monitoring of progress towards each of the new targets set by the strategy.
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§ Dr. Gibson
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been committed to the improvement of abortion services following the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV. [19452]

§ Jacqui Smith
We have committed £47.5 million to support initiatives in the sexual health and HIV strategy over the first two years. The precise breakdown of this funding for the next financial year will be decided in light of responses to the consultation on the strategy, which closes on 21 December. Future spending on specific activities will be set by the 2002 spending review.
Most abortion services are currently—and will continue to be—funded from main national health service allocations. As part of the implementation plan for the strategy, we will need to work with health commissioners to ensure that there is sufficient investment to meet the level of need locally; and towards achieving the new target set by the strategy that, by 2005, women who meet the legal requirements should have access to abortion within three weeks of the first appointment with the general practitioner or other referring doctor.