PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Abortion: Northern Ireland (25 March 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make an assessment of the extent of demand on the NHS in Northern Ireland that will result from the implementation of Section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019.

Asked by:
Sir John Hayes (Conservative)

On 25 March, the Government made The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020, which came into force on 31 March 2020. I recognise the current strains on health systems right across the UK, but hope that full abortion services can be commissioned as soon as possible in Northern Ireland in the current circumstances, consistent with the Regulations we made. It will be a matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Health and the Health and Social Care Board to assess the extent of the demand on the health system.

Answered by:
Mr Robin Walker (Conservative)
21 April 2020