Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Tuesday, 25 April 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 27 April 2006. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Thursday, 11 May 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Abortion/Assisted Suicide

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department's policy on (a) abortion and (b) assisted suicide was devised; which organisations and individuals were consulted; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Parliament has decided that abortions may lawfully be carried out in the circumstances specified in the Abortion Act 1967, as amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.The Department most recently set out its policy on sexual health, including abortion, in the ““National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV”” in 2001, and associated documents, which are available from the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk. In addition, recommended quality standards for the provision of abortion services are included in ““Recommended Standards for Sexual Health Services””, published in March 2005. The strategy was subject to a public consultation exercise.Assisting a person in committing suicide is unlawful under the Suicide Act 1961 and is subject to a penalty of up to 14 years imprisonment. The Government have no plans to change this legislation. Any proposals to change the law would be dealt with as a matter of conscience.

Secondary information