§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on those health authorities which offer a choice between early medical and surgical abortion. [19454]
§ Jacqui SmithThis information is not collected centrally at present. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists clinical guideline "Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion" recommends that, ideally, abortion services must be able to offer a choice of recommended methods for relevant gestation bands. The sexual health and HIV strategy, which is currently out for consultation, recommends that services should be developed to provide national health service funded abortions in line with the Royal College's recommendations. Following the consultation, we will decide an implementation plan for the Strategy, including the arrangements for monitoring progress towards the new targets and other commitments made by the strategy.