PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
ABORTION OF INFANTS WITH DISABILITIES (13 June 2006)

Motion Details

That this House notes statements from the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) that people with disabilities regard themselves as `different' and find it offensive to be set aside in the classification of handicapped; further notes that this is reflected in the DRC's opposition to abortion on the grounds of disability which implies that people with disabilities are of lesser worth than others; notes with regret however that the Office of National Statistics reported over 20 late abortions between 1996 and 2004 on the grounds of club foot that is easily corrected by surgery or physiotherapy; further notes that in the same period a further four infants were aborted because they had webbed fingers or extra digits which are also easily correctable; further notes that the bias against infants with mental disabilities is even stronger and that 92 per cent. of cases where Down's Syndrome is detected in the womb result in abortion; further notes with deep regret that a report from the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) states that health professionals often hold outdated or prejudiced views about people with Down's Syndrome and parents are frequently given only negative information despite the fact that people with Down's Syndrome can and do lead fulfilling lives and are of great value to society; and calls on the Government to give greater support to the DSA and similar groups which seek to ensure that appropriate support and accurate information is provided to all parents facing a pre-natal diagnosis of disability in an unborn infant.

Sponsored by:
Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour)

EDMS Sponsor By Party

Party
Votes
%
 
Labour
21
32%
 
 
Conservative
19
29%
 
 
Liberal Democrat
10
15%
 
 
Independent
7
11%
 
 
Democratic Unionist Party
3
5%
 
 
Social Democratic & Labour Party
2
3%
 
 
Speaker
1
2%
 
 
Plaid Cymru
1
2%
 
 
Scottish National Party
1
2%
 
 
Lord Speaker
1
2%
 
Sponsor List (66 sponsors)
Party
Member
Constituency
Con
Sir David Amess
Lab
Janet Anderson
Lab
Mr Joe Benton
Con
Mr Brian Binley
Ind
Mr Peter Bone
Lab
Mr David S. Borrow
Con
Sir Peter Bottomley
Con
Sir Julian Brazier
Con
Mr David Burrowes
LD
Sir Vince Cable
DUP
Mr Gregory Campbell
East Londonderry
Lab
Ben Chapman
Lab
Mr Tom Clarke
Lab
Michael Connarty
Con
Stephen Crabb
Lab
Sir David Crausby
Lab
Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Sponsor)
Con
David T C Davies
Ind
Mr Dai Davies
Con
Sir Philip Davies
Lab
Jim Dobbin
DUP
Lord Dodds of Duncairn
Ind
Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson
Lab
Dr David Drew
SDLP
Mark Durkan
Lab
Natascha Engel
Con
Mr Nigel Evans
LD
Tim Farron
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Lab
Michael Jabez Foster
Lab
Dr Hywel Francis
Con
Lord Goodman of Wycombe
Ind
Mr Mike Hancock
Con
Greg Hands
Con
Sir John Hayes
South Holland and The Deepings
LD
John Hemming
Lab
Sir Mark Hendrick
Preston
Spk
Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Chorley
Lab
Dr Brian Iddon
Con
Lord Jackson of Peterborough
Lab
Mr Brian Jenkins
LD
Mr John Leech
Con
Sir Edward Leigh
Gainsborough
PC
Mr Elfyn Llwyd
SDLP
Dr Alasdair McDonnell
Lord Speaker
Lord McFall of Alcluith
Lab
Jim McGovern
Ind
Anne Milton
Lab
Mr Edward O'Hara
LD
John Pugh
LD
Mr Alan Reid
Lab
John Robertson
Con
Andrew Rosindell
Romford
LD
Paul Rowen
LD
Sir Bob Russell
Con
Andrew Selous
DUP
David Simpson
Ind
Bob Spink
Lab
David Taylor
Ind
Mr Robert N. Wareing
Con
Mr Nigel Waterson
Con
Dame Angela Watkinson
SNP
Mike Weir
Lab
Mrs Betty Williams
LD
Lord Willis of Knaresborough
Con
Ann Winterton
LD
Richard Younger-Ross

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