CONDUCT OF THE BIRTH CONTROL TRUST

That this House notes that the Birth Control Trust has written to many honourable Members claiming that Lord Braine of Wheatley withdrew his Bill to outlaw partial-birth abortion on the grounds that 'the procedure is hardly ever used in the UK and that the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Medical Association opposed it'; further notes that this is completely untrue and that his Lordship did not proceed further with the Bill simply because of ill health; recalls the attitude of the sponsors of the Abortion Act 1967 towards the medical profession when the late Lord Houghton of Sowerby said 'the House will realise that medical bodies - important as they are, and having influential opinions as they do - are not the last word in what should be written into the law of the land. This House is in charge of the law.' (Official Report, 13th February 1970, columns 1699-1700), with the Right honourable Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale adding 'Constantly the point is made that because the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the BMA are pressing for this change, as they pressed for it during the passage of my Act, we must accept it. I cannot accept that argument. This House must take into account representations from a wide spectrum of opinion, knowledge and expertise on the subject. Of course, we must give special weight to their views ... But they cannot dictate to Parliament what should be provisions of an Abortion Act.' (Official Report, 13th February 1970, column 1093); notes additionally the other inaccuracies in the Birth Control Trust letter relating to foetal pain; and calls upon the Trust and any honourable Members who may have disseminated the untruth regarding Lord Braine to apologise forthwith to him.