Tribunal Hearing on Disclosure of Abortion Statistics

Time to disclose the full truth about abortion, says the ProLife Alliance

Abortion Freedom of Information Substantive Hearing in the Information Tribunal Friday 29 May, 1,2,3 June, 2009
 
Appellant:  Department of Health  
Respondent:  The Information Commissioner
Additional Party:  Prolife Alliance

Time:   10:30 am
Dates:  Friday 29 May, Monday 1 June, Tuesday 2 June, Wednesday 3 June
Place:  Procession House, 110 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6JL
 
Background:
            
Since September 2004 the ProLife Alliance has been requesting from the Department of Health (DH)  full disclosure of abortions statistics in relationship to terminations carried out under ground (e), the category dealing with abortion for disability, including those post-24 weeks and up to birth.  
 
Prior to 2003 when the police were asked to investigate the legality of a late abortion for cleft palate, abortion statistics were becoming ever more transparent. Subsequent to that case, however, the DH reversed the trend and began to significantly suppress detailed information.

It is now impossible to identify precisely how many abortions have been performed under a number of categories of disability, including cleft palate. An unspecified category recorded as  ‘other’ is sometimes the only detail available.
 
The ProLife Alliance turned to the Information Commissioner (IC) in January 2006, having failed to get any satisfaction from the DH.  After further and considerable delay on the part of the DH, the IC reached a decision in July 2008 in favour of the ProLife Alliance and ruled that the suppressed data should be disclosed.  The DH appealed the decision and it is this case which will be heard on Friday, 29 May, and next week on 1,2, & 3 June.
 
Witnesses for the ProLife Alliance include the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe MP, Prof Stuart Campbell (Consultant Obs&Gynae specialist renowned for ultrasound pictures of unborn babies) and Prof Vincent Argent (Consultant Obs&Gynae specialist and a former bpas medical director).
 
Prof Vivienne Nathanson from the BMA is among the witnesses for the Department of Health.
 
For further information:
ProLife Alliance : 020 7581 6939