HL Deb 22 July 2002 vol 638 cc25-6WA
Lord Alton of Liverpool

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to extend the pilot scheme, whereby the abortion pill RU 486 will be made available from selected family planning centres, to family planning centres throughout the United Kingdom. [HL5178]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Sexual Health and HIV Strategy Implementation Action Plan sets out the Department of Health's intention to pilot early abortion procedures in non-traditional settings that meet legal requirements for abortion provision. There will be a limited number of pilots in non-traditional settings, such as family planning clinics, located in hospitals vested in a National Health Service trust or primary care trust. The pilots will be carefully evaluated, and there are no plans for a wider scheme at the present time.

The action plan applies to England only. Services in Scotland and Wales are a matter for the devolved administrations. The Abortion Act does not apply to Northern Ireland.