Another Modest Proposal

Britain has just legislated to offer free abortions under the National Health Service in cases where there is a risk of the child being born mentally or physically abnormal or where the birth might harm the environment of existing children in the family. We have since received the report of a speech urging a further social reform to be delivered in the British House of Commons during the 1984 session.

Mr. Bodkin (Liberal: Bank, South): I am delighted, Mr. Speaker, that the fortune of the ballot should have given me the opportunity to introduce this Termination of Existence Bill. Though its scope may seem modest, I believe that it will help hundreds of thousands of our unfortunate fellow citizens. I cannot claim that the Bill breaks entirely fresh ground. In large measure, it is no more than an extension of the admirable principles of the Termination of Pregnancy Act, steered through the House with such dexterity by my hon friend, the member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles. All those who are stirred by the spectacle of suffering and who have it not in themselves to withhold a helping hand will, I believe, wish this present Bill well. No doubt faults will be found in its drafting, and I welcome suggestions from all parts of the House, for it is one of the glories of our system that in matters which touch the individual conscience we are freed of party ties and able to make up our minds dispassionately but not of course without a very real human commitment.

FM

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Ferdinand Mount

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Britain has just legislated to offer free abortions under the National Health Service in cases where there is a risk of the child being born mentally or physically abnormal or where the birth might harm the environment of existing children in the family. We have since received the report of a speech urging a further social reform to be delivered in the British House of Commons during the 1984 session.

Mr. Bodkin (Liberal: Bank, South): I am delighted, Mr. Speaker, that the fortune of the ballot should have given me the opportunity to introduce this Termination of Existence Bill. Though its scope may seem modest, I believe that it will help hundreds of thousands of our unfortunate fellow citizens. I cannot claim that the Bill breaks entirely fresh ground. In large measure, it is no more than an extension of the admirable principles of the Termination of Pregnancy Act, steered through the House with such dexterity by my hon friend, the member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles. All those who are stirred by the spectacle of suffering and who have it not in themselves to withhold a helping hand will, I believe, wish this present Bill well. No doubt faults will be found in its drafting, and I welcome suggestions from all parts of the House, for it is one of the glories of our system that in matters which touch the individual conscience we are freed of party ties and able to make up our minds dispassionately but not of course without a very real human commitment.