Written Question·Ministry of Justice·UIN 190885

Abortion

Tabled: 22 June 2023
Answered: 28 June 2023

Question

Paula Barker

LabourLiverpool Wavertree

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislative proposals to repeal sections (a) 58 and (b) 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

Answer

Edward Argar
The Government maintains a neutral stance in terms of changing the criminal law relating to abortion in England and Wales.Any change to the law in this area would be a matter of conscience for individual Parliamentarians rather than for the Government.