| Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill |
| The issue: |
Dear Sir George
I was disappointed to read how you had voted in respect of this Bill and the reasons thaT you gave.
Please give further thought to the reduction down from 24 weeks for abortion if the opportunity to vote on this comes again
Please do not support the extension of this Bill and the access to Abortion Act to Northern Ireland - all that I have read and heard indicates that the majority of people there do not want this.
I would be interested to hear how many letters, e mails , cards and other representations you received which supported the pro life stance; how many that supported abortion on demand and how many that supported the view that every child should be a wanted child, or indeed any other views.
Did you attend any of the Pro Life lobby meetings to learn more of their views and thinking ?
If nobody bothers to write to you, should more consideration be given to the views of those who do. |
| Date Issue Raised: |
19 Oct 2008 |
| My response: |
Many thanks for the email about the vote on abortion before the summer recess.
The last time the House of Commons debated this issue, I voted for a reduction in the time limit in which an abortion could lawfully be carried out. This was because the advance in medical science meant that a foetus could survive outside the womb at an earlier stage.
I listened carefully to the evidence for a further reduction this time and concluded that the medical evidence did not sustain such a reduction – and a majority of MP’s took a similar view.
I attended a number of meetings where both sides of the argument were presented, and listened carefully to constituents before deciding how to vote. I know that what I did not satisfy everyone. I probably got more cards from those favouring a more restrictive approach than from those favouring a more liberal one, but at the end of the day had to make a lonely decision on what I genuinely thought was the right thing to do.
We are debating the Bill again on Wednesday, but I am not sure there will be another vote on time limits.
Best wishes, George Young
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Sir George Young Bt MP: Constituency and Parliamentary Website 