Call For Debate As Abortion Devolved

Pro-life campaigners are calling for a Scottish Parliament debate on abortion.

It follows the devolution of abortion laws yesterday.

The secretary of state for Scotland is now asking interested groups and organisations for their thoughts. David Mundell wants to open up dialogue as Westminster and Holyrood progress with the transfer of power.

He said: "I understand that abortion law and whether it should be controlled by Holyrood are matters that many people feel very strongly about. I respect that. The subject was debated very passionately in the House during the passage of the original Scotland Bill in 1998 and again during Committee stage of the Scotland Bill in July.
 
"The Government has reflected very carefully on the points that have been made and I can today inform the Committee that we will bring forward an amendment to the Scotland Bill so that abortion law can be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
 
"Holyrood already has responsibility for dealing with end of life issues. It has responsibility for the NHS and for criminal justice in Scotland. I do not see a convincing constitutional reason for why abortion law should not be devolved and that is what has led me to this decision. What will follow is proper engagement with interested parties as we take this matter forward."

CARE for Scotland National Director Dr Stuart Weir said: "We welcome the fact abortion is to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Only recently MSPs debated a crucial end of life issue when the Parliament rejected assisted suicide by an overwhelming majority.
 
"It makes plain constitutional sense therefore for this new power to be given to Holyrood so the Parliament here has power over start of life issues as well.
 
"The transfer of such a major new power clearly merits a full Parliamentary debate and MSPs should take advantage of this opportunity as soon as possible.
 
"In recent years the Scottish Parliament has debated assisted suicide and other complicated topics and proved itself equal to the task so it makes obvious sense to debate abortion laws in Scotland following this transfer."

There is some hesitation around the issue from other political parties in Scotland. Scottish Labour Equalities Spokesperson Jenny Marra said:

"The Secretary of State has taken this decision behind closed doors without any consultation with women’s groups across Scotland. The Smith Commission promised a process to consider this, but that seems to have only meant a process that involved ministers of the UK and Scottish Governments, and not women across Scotland. 

"Scottish Labour firmly believes that the safest way to protect the current legal framework around abortion is for it to remain at UK level where there is a strong consensus around the current time limits.

"Leading human rights and women’s groups have said that devolving abortion law could undermine the right of women to make their own decisions. Scottish Labour want to see powers devolved for a purpose, like tax powers to invest in education or welfare powers to protect our vulnerable, and we join a ranged of groups who believe that abortion law should stay at a UK wide level, groups who the UK Government have failed to consult with."