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Scottish Parliament to be given powers over abortion laws Scottish Parliament to be given powers over abortion laws
(35 minutes later)
The Scottish Parliament is to be given control over abortion laws, the UK government has confirmed.The Scottish Parliament is to be given control over abortion laws, the UK government has confirmed.
The move had been considered by the cross-party Smith Commission on further devolution.The move had been considered by the cross-party Smith Commission on further devolution.
But it was not included in the commission's final report, or in the subsequent Scotland Bill.But it was not included in the commission's final report, or in the subsequent Scotland Bill.
The SNP, Lib Dems, Scottish Greens and Conservatives have all previously backed the devolution of abortion law, but it has been opposed by Labour.The SNP, Lib Dems, Scottish Greens and Conservatives have all previously backed the devolution of abortion law, but it has been opposed by Labour.
There have been discussions between the UK and Scottish governments on the issue.There have been discussions between the UK and Scottish governments on the issue.
And Scottish Secretary David Mundell told the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster that an amendment would be made to the Scotland Bill allowing the move.And Scottish Secretary David Mundell told the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster that an amendment would be made to the Scotland Bill allowing the move.
Speaking to MPs, he said: "I understand that abortion law and whether it should be controlled by Holyrood are matters that many people feel very strongly about. I respect that. The subject was debated very passionately in the House during the passage of the original Scotland Bill in 1998 and again during Committee stage of the Scotland Bill in July.
"The government has reflected very carefully on the points that have been made and I can today inform the committee that we will bring forward an amendment to the Scotland Bill so that abortion law can be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
"Holyrood already has responsibility for dealing with end of life issues. It has responsibility for the NHS and for criminal justice in Scotland. I do not see a convincing constitutional reason for why abortion law should not be devolved and that is what has led me to this decision."
'Robust medical evidence''Robust medical evidence'
The Smith Commission report had said that political parties were "strongly of the view to recommend the devolution of abortion and regard it as an anomalous health reservation."The Smith Commission report had said that political parties were "strongly of the view to recommend the devolution of abortion and regard it as an anomalous health reservation."
It added: "They agree that further serious consideration should be given to its devolution and a process should be established immediately to consider the matter further."It added: "They agree that further serious consideration should be given to its devolution and a process should be established immediately to consider the matter further."
The Scottish government is in favour of control over abortion being devolved to Holyrood, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had said she did not want to make any changes to the existing regulations.The Scottish government is in favour of control over abortion being devolved to Holyrood, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had said she did not want to make any changes to the existing regulations.
The option of devolving control of abortion law was considered ahead of the Scottish Parliament being reconvened in 1999.The option of devolving control of abortion law was considered ahead of the Scottish Parliament being reconvened in 1999.
But Donald Dewar, who was to become the country's inaugural first minister, took the view that it would be better to reserve the issue to Westminster in order to prevent the new parliament coming under heavy pressure to change the law on terminations.But Donald Dewar, who was to become the country's inaugural first minister, took the view that it would be better to reserve the issue to Westminster in order to prevent the new parliament coming under heavy pressure to change the law on terminations.
Labour has continued to oppose the move, with the party's sole Scottish MP, Ian Murray, previously saying that a woman's right to choose should be "determined by robust medical evidence and not by where you live."Labour has continued to oppose the move, with the party's sole Scottish MP, Ian Murray, previously saying that a woman's right to choose should be "determined by robust medical evidence and not by where you live."