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Abortion Reform Bill reaches LegCo

Royal Assent in October at the earliest

The Abortion Reform Bill will get its first reading in the Legislative Council today.

There had been a delay to it going before MLCs.

A fortnight ago, the MLC moving the legislation through the upper chamber, Bill Henderson, explained the reasons for the delay.

He said he and his colleagues needed to have the full amended copy, as agreed in the House of Keys, in front of them before they could start scrutinising it.

That amended copy was taking time to sort out, because of changes made and definitions required for health and human rights issues.

Mr Henderson added the hold-up would have little impact on the bill receiving Royal Assent, as the earliest that could happen would be October.

That means the act won't be promulgated until Tynwald Day 2019, although that is a ceremonial procedure, so it is able to become law before that.

At the time, the MHK who brought the bill forward, Dr Alex Allinson, and pro-choice campaigners said they were disappointed by the delay, but accepted and understood the reasons for it.

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