AQW 11802/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 09/12/2020
Answered On Date: 17/12/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether the commissioning of abortion services is a legal obligation under Section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019.

Answer:

Section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 does not contain an explicit legal obligation to commission abortion services. It requires the Secretary of State to make whatever changes to the law that are necessary to implement the recommendations made in paragraphs 85 and 86 of the CEDAW report (the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) published on 6 March 2018.