HFE Bill Update

You may be aware that there were a record number of 198,499 abortions in England and Wales in 2007 according to figures released on 19 June. Scottish figures this year were also the highest ever.

Things could be about to get even worse as the HFE Bill reaches report stage in the House of Commons on or shortly after 30 June when it can be further amended.

Evan Harris and two other MPs have put down two amendments to the Abortion Act; one effectively allowing abortion on request up to 24 weeks with one doctor’s signature only (ie. removal of physical and mental health grounds) and the other allowing nurses and midwives to perform abortions.

A briefing paper (http://www.cmf.org.uk/ethics/abortion_law_liberalisation.htm) on all these proposed changes gives more background information.

Please write urgently and before 30 June to:

The Prime Minister asking Mr Brown to exert his influence to uphold the government’s position that the Abortion Law should not be amended

Your MP asking him or her to vote against the Harris amendments. You can find out your MP’s views on abortion on the Alive and Kicking Website

A further briefing paper (http://www.cmf.org.uk/ethics/letter_writing_on_abortion.htm) on the CMF website gives a number of points that you could make.

If you can make time to send a letter by post, this will be even more effective than an email. You can write to both the PM and your MP at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

Finally please pray that for sake of mothers, babies, doctors and society the abortion law will not be further liberalised.