Holyrood is to be given the power to change the law on abortion, the Scottish secretary said yesterday.
David Mundell told MPs that he saw no reason for abortion law not to be devolved to the Scottish parliament. “Holyrood already has responsibility for dealing with end-of-life issues,” he said. “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.”
He said that amendments would be made to the Scotland Bill. The change is expected to take effect from 2017.
Although the Scottish government has pushed for control over abortion policy, Nicola Sturgeon has said she has no plans to change the regulations.
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Maureen Watt, the public health minister, said: “It has been our position, based on the recommendations from the Smith Commission, that abortion law should be devolved to Scotland as almost all other health matters are already devolved. However, the first minister has made absolutely clear that the Scottish government has no plans to change the law on abortion, including the current time limit.”