The story appears on

Page A4

October 7, 2012

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

HomeWorld

Hunt in lower abortion limit call

BRITAIN'S new health secretary has said he favors reducing the limit for women to have abortions from 24 weeks of pregnancy to 12, sparking criticism from opposition lawmakers and women's rights activists.

Jeremy Hunt, who took up the job just a few weeks ago, said he believed that 12 weeks was "the right point," telling the Times newspaper in an interview published yesterday: "It is just my view about that incredibly difficult question about the moment that we should deem life to start."

The comments followed recent remarks from Culture Secretary Maria Miller - also the minister for women - who said she would like to see the law tightened so that the limit comes down to 20 weeks.

The Prime Minister's office said Hunt was expressing purely personal views, and that the government has no plans to change laws on abortion.

But his remarks, coming just ahead of the annual Conservative Party conference, immediately stirred up political debate and anger from pro-choice campaigners.

Department of Health figures show that the vast majority of abortions last year were carried out at under 13 weeks.




 

Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

娌叕缃戝畨澶 31010602000204鍙

Email this to your friend