'Caroline Dinenage MP has welcomed the Government's announcement that residents of Northern Ireland will no longer be required to pay for abortion services performed by NHS England.
Health is a devolved matter, meaning that while residents of Northern Ireland are currently able to access these services in England, they generally have to make their own arrangements for doing so. However, Justine Greening, the Minister for Women and Equalities, yesterday confirmed that such services will now be paid for by the Government Equalities Office. This will ensure that the NHS faces no additional costs, and that no English health service user is disadvantaged a result.
It is the longstanding position in Northern Ireland to fund abortions in very limited circumstances only. The change will therefore help to bring the abortion rights of women in Northern Ireland in line with those of women in England, Wales and Scotland, without challenging the fundamental principle of devolved healthcare.
Commenting, Caroline said 'This is such a sensitive issue, and Abortion Law has always been a matter of each individual MP's conscience. However, the central issue here is the clear inequality of treatment between women in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. I am glad the Government has taken action to address this.'
