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/7064964.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Anti-abortion groups stage rally | Anti-abortion groups stage rally |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Religious and anti-abortion groups are holding a rally to mark 40 years since abortion was legalised. | |
| Activists met at the Houses of Parliament to call for a reduction in the upper time limit for abortion. | |
| They will walk to Westminster Cathedral for a service commemorating 6.7m abortions performed since 1967. | |
| Marie Stopes International said that although abortion rates needed to come down, the 1967 act had made it safer for women to terminate pregnancies. | Marie Stopes International said that although abortion rates needed to come down, the 1967 act had made it safer for women to terminate pregnancies. |
| Terminations | Terminations |
| Campaigners against abortion began their protest on Friday night when they projected the number of abortions on to the riverside face of the Houses of Parliament. | Campaigners against abortion began their protest on Friday night when they projected the number of abortions on to the riverside face of the Houses of Parliament. |
| In the 40 years since abortion has been legal in Britain, the number of terminations taking place each year has increased from 22,000 to almost 200,000. | In the 40 years since abortion has been legal in Britain, the number of terminations taking place each year has increased from 22,000 to almost 200,000. |
| However, on Wednesday Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said the government did not believe there is sufficient scientific evidence to lower the legal abortion limit of 24 weeks. | However, on Wednesday Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said the government did not believe there is sufficient scientific evidence to lower the legal abortion limit of 24 weeks. |
| We believe there is increasing public concern about these latest figures Julia Millington, Alive and Kicking | We believe there is increasing public concern about these latest figures Julia Millington, Alive and Kicking |
| Julia Millington, political co-ordinator for Alive and Kicking, the pro-life alliance organising Saturday's events, said the campaign was intended to raise awareness of the rising number of abortions and call for a change in the law. | Julia Millington, political co-ordinator for Alive and Kicking, the pro-life alliance organising Saturday's events, said the campaign was intended to raise awareness of the rising number of abortions and call for a change in the law. |
| She said nothing had persuaded the Department of Health that survival rates had improved for extremely premature babies born before that time. | She said nothing had persuaded the Department of Health that survival rates had improved for extremely premature babies born before that time. |
| She said: "We believe there is increasing public concern about these latest figures and we want to draw attention to this anniversary." | She said: "We believe there is increasing public concern about these latest figures and we want to draw attention to this anniversary." |
| Lord Steel, who piloted the 1967 act, suggested he would like to see lower abortion rates, but he said there was no such thing as a "correct" number and that each case had to be considered "on its merits". | Lord Steel, who piloted the 1967 act, suggested he would like to see lower abortion rates, but he said there was no such thing as a "correct" number and that each case had to be considered "on its merits". |
| Freedom to choose | Freedom to choose |
| Dr Kate Worsley, of sexual healthcare provider Marie Stopes International, agreed that more had to be done to bring rates down, such as providing better sex education and provision of contraceptives. | Dr Kate Worsley, of sexual healthcare provider Marie Stopes International, agreed that more had to be done to bring rates down, such as providing better sex education and provision of contraceptives. |
| "But the main point is that they're safe, whereas [in] about 50% of countries in the world, women are still having unsafe abortions," she added. | "But the main point is that they're safe, whereas [in] about 50% of countries in the world, women are still having unsafe abortions," she added. |
| Dr John Parsons, of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, told BBC News 24 that, above all, the act had given women choice. | Dr John Parsons, of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, told BBC News 24 that, above all, the act had given women choice. |
| "It has meant that for the last 40 years women have had the option to end pregnancies which are unplanned and which they do not wish to continue. | "It has meant that for the last 40 years women have had the option to end pregnancies which are unplanned and which they do not wish to continue. |
| "It has given them freedom and independence." | "It has given them freedom and independence." |