This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7409696.stm

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 30 Version 31
MPs reject cutting abortion limit MPs back 24-week abortion limit
(30 minutes later)
Attempts to cut the 24-week upper limit for abortions to within the first 20 or 22 weeks of a pregnancy have been rejected by MPs. Attempts to cut the upper limit for abortions from 24 to 22 weeks have been rejected by MPs after a free vote.
Tory MP Nadine Dorries, an ex-nurse, who proposed the 20-week limit, said she was not anti-abortion, but said the baby involved "had rights". Tory MP Nadine Dorries, a former nurse who proposed a 20-week limit, said: "There comes a point when it has to be said this baby has a right to life."
But her plan was defeated by 332 votes to 190. A move to bring in a 22 week limit was opposed by 304 votes to 233. But her plan was defeated by 332 votes to 190. A move to bring in a 22-week limit was opposed by 304 votes to 233.
Pro-choice campaigners dismissed efforts to cut the limits as "cynical". Pro-choice campaigners said there was no scientific evidence to justify a cut in the limit.
The proposed reductions came in amendments to the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. Government figures showed 193,737 women in England and Wales had an abortion in 2006.
Survival rates 'disputed'
It was the second day of debate on the bill, and came after MPs voted down a cross-party attempt to ban hybrid human animal embryos.
MPs also rejected a cross-party move for doctors to consider the need for a "father and a mother" before allowing IVF treatment.
Health Minister Dawn Primarolo insisted there was no evidence requiring the abortion laws to be changed.
In modern Britain the most dangerous place to be is in your mother's womb. It should be a place of sanctity Edward LeighConservative MP In quotes: Abortion debateQ&A: Abortion lawQ&A: The issues explainedIn modern Britain the most dangerous place to be is in your mother's womb. It should be a place of sanctity Edward LeighConservative MP In quotes: Abortion debateQ&A: Abortion lawQ&A: The issues explained
"The upper gestational limit for termination of pregnancy was set by Parliament in 1990 at 24 weeks because the scientific evidence of the time was that the threshold of viability had increased and babies were increasingly surviving at 24 weeks and above. The votes followed two impassioned debates on the controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill - the biggest shake-up of fertility law for nearly 20 years.
"That was the case in 1990 and it's certainly the case now." Earlier the government saw off another challenge to the bill when MPs rejected a cross-party move for doctors to consider the need for a "father and a mother" before allowing IVF treatment.
Before the abortion debate, Gordon Brown said he would vote for the status quo but Conservative leader David Cameron said he favoured lowering the limit to 22 weeks.
'No evidence'
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was also expected to vote against a reduction.
Health Minister Dawn Primarolo insisted there was no evidence requiring the abortion laws to be changed.
She said: "The upper gestational limit for termination of pregnancy was set by Parliament in 1990 at 24 weeks because the scientific evidence of the time was that the threshold of viability had increased and babies were increasingly surviving at 24 weeks and above.
"That was the case in 1990 and it's certainly the case now."
But, David Jones, a professor of bio-ethics, said research on the survival rates for extremely premature babies was "disputed".But, David Jones, a professor of bio-ethics, said research on the survival rates for extremely premature babies was "disputed".
In the Commons, MPs rejected a bid to reduce the abortion limit to within the first 22 weeks of pregnancy by 304 votes to 233. Opponents of the 24-week limit say babies can feel pain in abortions
An attempt to cut the limit to 12 weeks was opposed by 393 votes to 71. A further attempt to get the limit down to 16 weeks was defeated by 387 votes to 84.
Gordon Brown said he would vote to maintain the current limit, while Conservative leader David Cameron said he would vote to lower the limit to 22 weeks.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was also expected to vote against any reduction.
Mrs Dorries said she believed the right of a woman to choose had its limits.Mrs Dorries said she believed the right of a woman to choose had its limits.
She reached this decision after seeing the "botched" abortion of a baby boy when she was a gynaecological nurse, she said. She said she reached this decision after seeing the "botched" abortion of a baby boy when she was a gynaecological nurse.
"I believe a baby has rights. Those rights kick in if that baby were born it would have a chance of life and if it feels pain as part of the abortion," she said."I believe a baby has rights. Those rights kick in if that baby were born it would have a chance of life and if it feels pain as part of the abortion," she said.
'Protect the vulnerable''Protect the vulnerable'
Ex-minister Edward Leigh, a father-of-six, who pressed the 12-week limit, said it would bring Britain into line with the rest of Europe. Ex-minister Edward Leigh, a father-of-six, who pressed for a 12-week limit, said it would bring Britain into line with the rest of Europe.
ENGLAND AND WALES ABORTIONS Under 9 weeks: 54.9%9-12 weeks: 34.3%13-19 weeks: 9.2% 20-24 weeks: 1.5% ONS figures from 2006 Abortion: Medical evidenceHow MPs voted on embryosAbortions 1971-2006ENGLAND AND WALES ABORTIONS Under 9 weeks: 54.9%9-12 weeks: 34.3%13-19 weeks: 9.2% 20-24 weeks: 1.5% ONS figures from 2006 Abortion: Medical evidenceHow MPs voted on embryosAbortions 1971-2006
"In modern Britain the most dangerous place to be is in your mother's womb. It should be a place of sanctity," he said."In modern Britain the most dangerous place to be is in your mother's womb. It should be a place of sanctity," he said.
He said that "98% of abortions are social - only 1.3% are for foetuses which are handicapped, 0.4% are for risk to mother's life. "It is a bleak picture of modern Britain ... He said "98% of abortions are social - only 1.3% are for foetuses which are handicapped, 0.4% are for risk to mother's life" and added: "It is a bleak picture of modern Britain ...I believe we should give that silent child a voice."
"I believe we should give that silent child a voice," he said. Labour's Claire Curtis-Thomas said she was not opposed to abortion, believing women had the right to choose.
Labour's Claire Curtis-Thomas said she was not opposed to abortion, believing that women have the right to choose. "I just hope they don't choose to have an abortion," she said, adding that she would be happier with a 12-week limit. But she added: "I can't accept that we keep the limit where it stands where there is a possibility of life. The majority of people are deeply uncomfortable with that prospect."
"I can't accept that we keep the limit where it stands where there is a possibility of life. The majority of people are deeply uncomfortable with that prospect," she said. 'Misconception'
Tory Mark Pritchard, who would like the limit to be 16 weeks, said: "I believe that terminating a child that has been woven and knitted in the womb should be a choice of last resort - not the latest manifestation of Britain's throwaway society." Labour's Chris McCafferty said restricting when a woman could have a termination "is just prolonging the agony" and was "cruel, cynical, ill-informed and inhumane".
'Difficult matter'
But Labour's Chris McCafferty said restricting when a woman can have a termination "is just prolonging the agony" and was "cruel, cynical, ill-informed and inhumane".
"It's a basic misconception that women with an unwanted pregnancy should only enter into the actual decision-making process after counselling with someone they do not know," she said."It's a basic misconception that women with an unwanted pregnancy should only enter into the actual decision-making process after counselling with someone they do not know," she said.
HAVE YOUR SAYThis is about a woman having the right to choose what happens to her bodyLeana, Shropshire Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYThis is about a woman having the right to choose what happens to her bodyLeana, Shropshire Send us your comments
Ex-Cabinet minister Ann Widdecombe asked why "viability" of the child should be the only determining factor in setting the limit for abortions.
"There is a substantial body of evidence about foetal pain and foetal distress and if the child who is being aborted cannot live, what's the point of the lethal injection?"
Lib Dem Dr John Pugh said: "There are people in our world today in no way inferior to us in capacity, intelligence and beauty who were born at 22 weeks. That ought to give us cause for reflection."Lib Dem Dr John Pugh said: "There are people in our world today in no way inferior to us in capacity, intelligence and beauty who were born at 22 weeks. That ought to give us cause for reflection."
Government figures show that 193,737 women in England and Wales had an abortion in 2006. Earlier a bid to cut the limit to 12 weeks was opposed by 393 votes to 71. A further attempt to get the limit down to 16 weeks was defeated by 387 votes to 84.
Previous attempts to force a vote on lowering the abortion limit have been defeated, but as there is a free vote on the issue, an unknown number of MPs may choose to stay away, or abstain. On Monday night a cross-party attempt to ban hybrid animal embryos was defeated, and a bid to ban "saviour siblings" was voted down by 342 votes to 163.
That increases the chances of those campaigning to lower the limit to 20 or 22 weeks, who claim to have the backing of 200 MPs.
Need for father
Ahead of the abortion debate, MPs voted down, by 292 votes to 217, an amendment that makes it a condition of IVF treatment that there be both a "father and a mother".
They also opposed a further bid to ensure there is a "father or a male role model" before fertility treatment, by 290 votes to 222.
Existing legislation requires IVF clinics to consider the "welfare" of any child created, which currently means considering the need for a father.
However, the new bill says this should no longer be the case, saying instead there needs to be evidence of "supportive parenting".
On Monday night a cross-party attempt to ban hybrid animal embryos was defeated.
Roman Catholic cabinet ministers Ruth Kelly, Des Browne and Paul Murphy voted for a ban, while Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron both opposed it.
A bid to ban "saviour siblings" was voted down by 342 votes to 163.
Return to storyReturn to story