Government "ignores dangers of morning-after pill"

Westminster, 30 January 2001--The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has condemned the government for ignoring the dangers of abortifacient morning-after pills, after peers last night supported wider availability of such pills.

John Smeaton, SPUC national director, said: "The government has blithely ignored the rising trend in abortions, teenage pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), despite many years of widespread availability of the morning-after pill. The claim by Lord Hunt, the public health minister in the Lords, that the government is concerned about these dangers lacks all credibility, particularly after the approval of this abortion pill. We have heard these weasel words before.

"Even a reluctant supporter of the government's measure, the Bishop of St Albans, admitted that selling the morning-after pill in pharmacies would downgrade the dignity of human life and lead to a considerable rise in STDs."

Mr Smeaton added: "The government seems to care even less about vulnerable girls under the age of consent in Northern Ireland. The government's measure allows girls aged 16 to buy the morning-after pill, yet the age of consent in Northern Ireland is 17. This will aid and abet under-age sex and we deplore the fact that the measure bears the signature of Ms Bairbre de Brun, Sinn Fein's pro-abortion health minister.

"We congratulate Baroness Young on her attempt to halt this move and welcome the strong support she received from the opposition benches in the House of Lords."

Lady Young tabled a motion calling for the Prescription Only Medicines (Human use) Amendment (No.3) Order 2000 to be annulled. The House of Lords voted against her motion last night by 177 votes to 95.