Reforming Abortion Laws

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31120, 25 July 1966, Page 13

Reforming Abortion Laws

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, July 24. The House of Commons on Friday night voted overwhelmingly in favour of reforming Britain’s 100-year-old abortion laws to prevent many of the 40,000 annual backstreet abortions. By a majority of 194, on a non-party vote, the House agreed in principle to a private bill to legalise abor-

tion for health reasons or if there was a substantial risk of the child being deformed. Under present law, abortion is legal if the life of a woman is endangered by continued pregnancy. But Friday’s bill, passed by 223 to 29, faces many hazards before it can become law. Few private bills become law without Government backing because of lack of Parliamentary time.

The Home Secretary (Mr Roy Jenkins) said during the debate that while the Government’s collective attitude must remain one of neutrality it would be glad to give draft-

;ing assistance should the (House decide to give the bill a second reading. “I am certainly myself convinced that the existing law on abortion is uncertain and is also perhaps more important, harsh and archaic—and that it is in urgent need of reform,” he said. “I certainly shall have no hesitation myself in voting for the second reading of the bill. I take this view because 1 believe that we have here a ■ major social problem.” ( Opponents of a private bill can obstruct it indefinitely by putting down innumerable amendments during line by

line debates in committee. Such procedural tactics have killed previous reforming bills on abortion. Roman Catholic members strongly opposed Friday’s proposals. Mr William Wells (Labour) said he had been told that three weeks after conception, an embryo had a heart-beat. This showed the existence of human life. Mr Norman St. John-Stevas (Conservative) called the bill barbarous.

The bill’s sponsor, a Liberal member, 28-year-old Mr David Steel, said be hoped to become a father next month.