Written Question·Department of Health and Social Care·UIN 104463

Abortion: Sex Selection

Tabled: 9 January 2026

Answered: 22 January 2026

Question

Sir John Hayes

Conservative — South Holland and The Deepings

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with abortion practitioners to discuss what steps they are taking to prevent abortions taking place on the basis of sex.

Answer

Karin Smyth

The Department’s guidance, which was issued on 23 May 2014, states clearly that abortion on the grounds of sex alone is illegal. Sex is not itself a lawful ground for termination of pregnancy in England and Wales under the Abortion Act.Whilst we have not ...

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