This Section reserves matters relating to abortion.
In Scotland the law relating to abortion, both civil and criminal, is mostly common law, with the exception of the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended). At common law in Scotland it is a crime to procure or attempt to procure an abortion. Certain exceptions or defences were provided by the common law but these are now superseded by the 1967 Act which sets out the circumstances in which it is lawful, for the purposes of the law relating to abortion, to carry out an abortion. The 1967 Act introduces in effect a similar regime for the whole of Great Britain.
The 1967 Act also makes provision for the approval of places where terminations of pregnancies may lawfully be carried out and for the making of regulations to require certification and notification of doctors opinions before a termination is carried out.
Attempts have been made to seek civil law remedies in Scotland to prevent abortions being carried out under the 1967 Act but these were unsuccessful.
| Stage | Date | Column |
|---|---|---|
| CC | 31-Mar-98 | 1093 |
| LC | 27-Jul-98 | 1284 |
| LR | 3-Nov-98 | 202 |
Legislative competence relating to abortion is reserved. This means that the Scottish Parliament cannot make statutory provisions to alter the criminal law relating to abortion in Scotland or provision in the Abortion Act 1967, such as to alter the circumstances in which an abortion may be lawfully carried out. Subject to what is said below, it also could not legislate to modify any other provision, whether of the civil or criminal law, which relates to the matter of abortion.
The effect of sections 29(4) and 35 of the Act is that, while the Parliament could legislate to modify a provision of Scots private law (concerning, say, the date of acquisition of human personality, and its consequences, for the purposes of Scots private law) which affected abortion, it could only do so in order to achieve consistency in the application of Scots private law in relation to devolved and reserved matters; and if such a provision were adversely to affect the operation of the law as it applies to abortion the Secretary of State would have the power to intervene.
The following functions have been included in the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1750).
The Abortion Act 1967 (c.87), sections 1(3) and 2. | Section 1(3) - The function of the Secretary of State to approve places where a termination of pregnancy may be carried out. Section 2(1) - The function of the Secretary of State to make regulations to prescribe the arrangements for certifying of medical opinions; the related confidentiality provisions. Section 2(2) - a requirement to notify terminations to the Chief Medical Officer in Scotland. |