Overview

This bill proposes to amend the Abortion Act 1967 in England, Wales, and Scotland. The key change is reducing the number of doctors required to certify a pregnancy termination from two to one.

Description

The Abortion Act 1967 (Amendment) Bill seeks to modify the 1967 Act's requirements for terminating a pregnancy. Currently, two registered medical practitioners must certify the need for an abortion. This bill aims to amend section 1(1) and (4) of the 1967 Act to require only one registered medical practitioner's certification.

Key Changes:

• Reduces the number of doctors required to authorize a termination from two to one.
• Applies to England, Wales, and Scotland.
• The Act comes into force immediately upon its passage.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify changes to government spending. The potential impact on government spending is indirect and uncertain, possibly related to changes in the NHS's abortion service delivery costs.

Groups Affected

Groups potentially affected include:

• Women seeking abortions: The bill could potentially increase access to abortion services by streamlining the certification process.
• Medical practitioners: The bill will change their responsibilities concerning abortion certifications.
• Anti-abortion groups: This bill is likely to be opposed by groups holding anti-abortion views.
• NHS Trusts: This will affect the operational procedures for abortion services.

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