Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Elizabeth Peacock (Conservative), on Wednesday, 17 July 1996, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 12 members in total.

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CONDUCT OF THE BIRTH CONTROL TRUST

That this House notes that the Birth Control Trust has written to many honourable Members claiming that Lord Braine of Wheatley withdrew his Bill to outlaw partial-birth abortion on the grounds that 'the procedure is hardly ever used in the UK and that the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Medical Association opposed it'; further notes that this is completely untrue and that his Lordship did not proceed further with the Bill simply because of ill health; recalls the attitude of the sponsors of the Abortion Act 1967 towards the medical profession when the late Lord Houghton of Sowerby said 'the House will realise that medical bodies - important as they are, and having influential opinions as they do - are not the last word in what should be written into the law of the land. This House is in charge of the law.' (Official Report, 13th February 1970, columns 1699-1700), with the Right honourable Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale adding 'Constantly the point is made that because the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the BMA are pressing for this change, as they pressed for it during the passage of my Act, we must accept it. I cannot accept that argument. This House must take into account representations from a wide spectrum of opinion, knowledge and expertise on the subject. Of course, we must give special weight to their views ... But they cannot dictate to Parliament what should be provisions of an Abortion Act.' (Official Report, 13th February 1970, column 1093); notes additionally the other inaccuracies in the Birth Control Trust letter relating to foetal pain; and calls upon the Trust and any honourable Members who may have disseminated the untruth regarding Lord Braine to apologise forthwith to him.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

CONDUCT OF THE BIRTH CONTROL TRUST (1190A1)

The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Harry Barnes (primary, Labour) and tabled on Tuesday, 23 July 1996. It has been signed by 1 members in total.

leave out from `abortion' to end and add `when it became clear that the procedure is hardly ever used in the United Kingdom and that the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Medical Association opposed Lord Braine's attempt to legally restrict the ability of the medical profession to use techniques considered clinically appropriate; notes that this information accurately conveyed to honourable Members and peers the timing of the withdrawl of the Bill and was not speculation as to Lord Braine's reason; and notes that information on foetal pain disseminated by the Birth Control Trust which explains that responses to noxious stimuli, in foetuses prior to 26 weeks gestation, cannot be interpreted as feeling or percieving pain is consistent with the views of Professor Maria Fitzgerald, Professor of Developmental Neurobiology at University College, London, as expressed in her paper, Foetal pain; an update of Scientific Knowledge, which was prepared last year for the Department of Health.'.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

1190 

1190A1 

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Abortion

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk