Written question asked by Andy Burnham (Labour) on Monday, 16 April 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 April 2012. It was answered by Anne Milton (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 April 2012 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Abortion

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish advice provided to him by his Department's civil servants on the unannounced inspection of abortion providers in March 2012.

Answer: We have received serious allegations involving doctors in abortion clinics pre-signing abortion certificates. We have a duty to urgently investigate. Advice was submitted to Ministers in week commencing 12 March.The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), subsequently asked that urgent unannounced inspections be carried out to ensure that the law was being upheld, which the Care Quality Commission agreed to do. Disclosure of the advice submitted to Ministers might prejudice the administration of justice through law enforcement proceedings, the carrying out of public bodies regulatory functions, including in relation to professional fitness or competence, and would prejudice the civil service's free and frank provision of advice to Ministers.

Secondary information