http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201213/ldhansrd/text/120719w0001.htm#12071972000444
The figures tell their own terrible story: 6.3 million abortions in England and Wales since it was made legal in 1967 and just 143 where a woman’s life was in danger.
Even when combining the category where continuing with the pregnancy might have constituted a risk to health greater than termination the total number of abortions is less than half of one percent.
When the case for allowing legal abortion was first placed before Parliament it was argued that the law needed to be changed to deal with extremely serious situations. More than 6 million abortions later the figures reveal that in 99.5% of cases where an unborn child’s life is ended there is no risk to the health of the mother. Other figures reveal that 3 teenage girls have had 24 abortions between them and that some women have had more than 8 legal abortions.
“The problem with statistics is that they become incomprehensible. Behind every single statistic is a beating heart and we need to remind ourselves that the ending of every one of these six million lives is a tragedy.”
With evidence accumulating of abortions carried out on the grounds of gender and of forged authorisation forms these latest figures underline why a rigorous independent review of the 1967 Act is long overdue and why society needs to reassess the presumption that ending the life of an unborn child is merely a matter of choice.”
There have been a catalogue of recent disclosures that portray an increasingly unmanageable service freely abusing its autonomy – at least with regards to the unborn.
Last November, it was revealed the Department of Health had vastly understated the amount being spent on abortions, as well as the proportion going to private providers; then, the multi-million link between abortion providers and referral agencies became known; in February this year, The Daily Telegraph exposed the wide-spread use of illegal gender-select abortions leading to a criminal investigation; and now with these latest statistics it is absolutely clear that Parliament is failing to oversee the working of the Abortion Act in protecting the dignity of all human life.
Perhaps most worrying of the 2012 statistics is the high number of teenagers undergoing multiple abortions. The deep psychological effects abortion can have on a woman are well publicised and recognised by most as a critical concern. Despite this, little to nothing is being done to help those who have been through this process – with all the anguish and distress it entails – multiple times before they have even reached full emotional maturity.
Parliamentary replies like this one have elucidated little in the way of a new strategy from the British Government.
Asked whether the Foreign Secretary intends to take steps to ensure that China’s actions against Uyghurs is recognised as genocide through international courts and by working with international partners, in accordance with his remarks in March 2023, the FCDO trots out their usual evasive circular argument. In Opposition, today’s Ministers voted to change the law on Genocide Determination. They should now stand up to the officials who try to use determination of atrocities as a diplomatic tool rather than honouring the obligations in the Genocide Convention.
Asked whether the Foreign Secretary intends to...