A controversial decision on whether to allow television adverts for abortion has been delayed by watchdogs following a massive public outcry.
The Broadcasting Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) received about 4,000 letters and other communications with comments and petitions, with the great majority opposing the idea of watering down the rules not to allow the abortion adverts.
The usual response to changes to advertising rules comprises about 300 submissions.
The contentious proposals also included further relaxation of the ban on condoms being advertised on TV before the 9pm watershed, a move supposedly designed to reduce teenage pregnancy rates in the UK.
The code review was originally intended to be completed early in the autumn, but as a result of the huge response, BCAP have decided they need more time and have delayed making a decision to the beginning of next year.
Eric Hester, vice-chairman of the charity the Family Education Trust, said:
'I am glad that there has been such a big public reaction, but not surprised. People hold strong views on abortion.
'We feel it is not appropriate to be promoted or advertised on television. A TV advertisement is very superficial and cannot do justice a serious issue such as this.
'Allowing advertising of these services on television gives it a kind of legitimacy for young people. These are profound issues that should first and foremost be discussed between young people and their parents, not promoted through propaganda.
'Secondly, it is not as if this is some sort of vital service that people cannot find out about through other means.’
Paul Tully, the general secretary of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said:
‘We are pleased to note that the BCAP is carefully scrutinizing the submissions. We hope that this huge expression of public concern will make the BCAP realize the depth of public feeling on the issue. We are very, very grateful to all those who have expressed reservations about the proposals.
'We must ensure that the government too notes the depth of public concern on this matter, and SPUC groups around the country are currently promoting a national petition directed to the prime minister to ensure that our concerns are heard by politicians too,’ he added.
The bishops of England and Wales, together with the Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics, also condemned the proposals. Dr Helen Watt, director of the Linacre Centre, welcomed news of the delay. She said:
'At a time when organisations which profit from abortion already advertise widely, while those who offer genuine pregnancy support struggle just to make ends meet, it is more important than ever that the powerful medium of television not be made available to those who make a living from harming pregnant women and their babies.'
(See the Catholic Herald report)
A spokesman for BCAP said:
‘The volume of responses, around 4,000, to the CAP and BCAP code consultation was significant and greater than anticipated. This is perhaps due in part to widespread media coverage around the consultation launch.
'CAP and BCAP are currently carefully assessing all the responses and anticipate publishing their evaluation of the consultation along with the new advertising codes in the first quarter of 2010.’
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