The Scottish Government has no plans to change the current time limits for abortion, the First Minister has said.
Nicola Sturgeon was questioned on the issue following reports that the UK Government is planning to devolve control over abortion law to Holyrood.
Such a move could allow MSPs to increase or lower the UK's existing 24-week limit for pregnancy termination, prompting campaign groups to voice concern about the possible implications of different rules applying north and south of the border.
Ms Sturgeon told MSPs the Scottish Government believes abortion law should be devolved to "bring it into line with almost all other health matters".
But she added: "Let me be absolutely clear: the Scottish Government's position on abortion law remains unchanged. We have no plans to change the law on abortion."
The Smith Commission report on further devolution last year recommended that serious consideration should be given to the transfer of abortion law to Edinburgh.
Reports at the weekend suggested an agreement will be reached to add abortion law to the Scotland Bill, which is transferring a variety of new powers to Holyrood.
Questioning Ms Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament, Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said groups such as Scottish Women's Aid and Rape Crisis Scotland, as well as organisations like the STUC, have "real concerns this can have an impact on women in Scotland".
Ms Grant also asked about the Scottish Government's reason for seeking the transfer of abortion law to Holyrood "if she has no plans to change the law, and given that we believe that powers should be sought for a purpose".
Ms Sturgeon said: "I think where this Parliament is responsible for the NHS framework we should also be responsible - as we are in most other matters - for the laws that the NHS works within.
"There are many responsibilities that this Parliament has on issues where I have no current plans to change the substance of the laws. That doesn't negate the issue in principle that it is this Parliament that should have responsibility."
Reiterating her stance, the SNP leader added: "Let me by absolutely clear of my own view and of the Scottish Government's position.
"I have no intention, this Government has no intention, of legislating to change the current time limits for abortion."
Health Secretary Shona Robison is writing to a number of women's groups this week to clarify Scottish ministers' position, Ms Sturgeon told MSPs.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel