Maria Miller has said that the upper time limit for abortions should be reduced to ensure that legislation reflects “people’s views” on the issue.
The Minister for Women and Equalities said that a change in the law would ensure doctors continued to improve the care of premature babies.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Mrs Miller said: “I want to make sure that the law keeps pace with people’s views on this issue.
“Whether it’s to do with medics, whether it’s to do with women themselves, whether it’s to do with children’s health, it’s a small reduction which I think would go a long way to make sure that there’s a pressure on the medical profession to keep evolving the way that they assess neonatal health and the way they assess maternal health as well”.
Mrs Miller’s remarks are consistent with her prior expression of support for a reduction from 24 weeks to 20.
Cabinet ministers Jeremy Hunt and Theresa May have also backed calls for the limit to be cut.
But Health Minister Anna Soubry recently announced that the Government had no plans to change the law.
Miss Soubry also announced that the Government had dropped plans to hold a public consultation on guaranteed access to independent counselling for women seeking an abortion.
Previous stories on this topic:
More cabinet ministers support reduction in abortion time limit
New Women’s Minister in favour of lowering abortion limit
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