Brook and FPA react to Women's Minister call to reduce the time limit for abortion

Sexual health charities Brook and FPA expressed deep concerns today about calls by Maria Miller MP, the new Women's Minister to reduce the abortion limit to 20 weeks.

Julie Bentley, Chief Executive FPA, said:

"We firmly believe in following the scientific evidence. Recent examinations of the issue, clearly shows there is no evidence to support a reduction in the abortion time limit. This view is supported across the medical community by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Nursing and the British Association of Perinatal Medicine. We're extremely disappointed that a Women's Minister should be misinformed in this matter."

Juliet Hillier, Executive Director of Policy and Communications at Brook added:

"Late abortion only affects a small number of women, who are often in extremely challenging circumstances. Rather than arbitrarily changing the time limit, we should instead provide as much support as we can for women to make the right choice for themselves, as early as is practically possible. We should also work across health and education to improve access to contraception, abortion advice, support and services."