Member

There could have been amendments in this group on changing the limit from 24 to 22 weeks, but that is not the key point. It is no surprise that people concerned about Clause 191 think that this will lead to an even greater number of abortions going beyond the 10 weeks that are supposed to be set aside for these pills by post, because that is where we have seen the criminal prosecutions and investigations happen. Parliament needs to decide whether it agrees on the restrictions that we currently have, and, if it does, who we will hold to account. I think it should be the people who provide the pills; they are supposed to be the safeguard and the check. We have to work out a way for that check to be meaningful so that it is not left to a clumsy investigation, which the noble Lord, Lord Hogan-Howe, talked about. We need to work that through, and that is why the providers are key to this.