Hansard

Item 3 is consideration of new petitions. I will begin this item as I normally do by saying that, before the committee considers a new petition, we send it to the Scottish Government to request an initial view on the petition, as well as asking for a briefing from the Parliament’s impartial research service, the Scottish Parliament information centre. Our first new petition today is PE1969, on amending the law to fully decriminalise abortion in Scotland, which has been lodged by Gemma Clark. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce legislation to fully decriminalise abortion services in Scotland and make provision to ensure that abortion services are available up to the 24th week of pregnancy across all parts of Scotland. Gemma highlights that, although the Abortion Act 1967 sets out criteria making abortion permissible, such as the requirement for two doctors’ signatures, it does not explicitly decriminalise abortion. Gemma believes that that leaves women open to the risk of prosecution if they choose to end their pregnancy. In responding to the petition, the Scottish Government makes clear its view that all women should be able to access abortion services, as set down within the limits of the law, where they wish. The Government’s response refers to work being undertaken with national health service boards to ensure that services up to 24 weeks are established in Scotland. It also makes reference to the support that is being provided to Gillian Mackay in drafting her member’s bill on safe access zones for abortion services. The Scottish Government has indicated that, although it may be open to reviewing the law on abortion in the future, it has no immediate plans to amend the Abortion Act 1967. The committee has also received a submission from the Scottish feminist policy and advocacy organisation Engender, which briefly sets out its argument in support of decriminalising abortion. Members should also be aware, as highlighted in both the briefing we received from SPICe and the Scottish Government response, that the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 mentioned in the petition does not apply in Scotland. Do members have any suggestions or comments??