AQW 10646/17-22

Mr Matthew O'Toole
Social Democratic and Labour Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 19/11/2020
Answered On Date: 17/12/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) why his Department has not ensured the commissioning of abortion services in Northern Ireland in line with the legislative framework; and (ii) whether he will provide a timeline of when these services will be progressed.

Answer:

Initial consideration of a commissioning specification was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In April of this year, I sought Executive agreement, as required by the Ministerial Code when an issue is cross cutting and controversial, to introduce an emergency early medical abortion service for the duration of the pandemic.

The Executive has yet to agree my proposal. I am therefore unable to give a timescale for the introduction of services.