Question reference: S5W-16699
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 16 May 2018
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Current status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 30 May 2018
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to changes to the Abortion Act 1967 as it applies in Scotland, in light of the devolution of abortion services in the Scotland Act 2016, and what discussions ministers have had with organisations regarding this issue since the commencement of the new powers.
Answer
The Scottish Government confirmed in its Programme for Government for 2016-2017 that it had no current plans to change the law on abortion. The Scottish Government’s priority in this area is to focus on improving abortion services for women. For example, this includes the October 2017 approval enabling women undergoing early medical abortion to take the second drug, misoprostol, in their own home where it is clinically appropriate and they wish to do so.
Scottish Ministers have had meetings with stakeholders on matters regarding abortion and with the National Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Advisory Committee (NSHBAC), which advises Ministers on ways to improve sexual health services, including abortion.