WOMEN from Northern Ireland are to be offered free abortions on the NHS in Scotland.
The Scottish Government confirmed the measure yesterday, with details to be set out shortly.
Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland other than in exceptional circumstances. Hundreds of women each year are thought to travel to other parts of the UK to have pregnancies terminated. They currently have to pay for NHS abortions.
The UK Government last week backed funding for women from Northern Ireland to access free abortions in England, while Wales followed suit yesterday. New powers over abortion were devolved to Holyrood as part of the 2016 Scotland Act.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Government’s view is that abortion should be part of standard health care for all women.
“It believes that a woman from Northern Ireland should be able to access an abortion for free on the same basis as women in Scotland and we will set out shortly how that can be achieved.”
The issue was originally raised by the Scottish Greens at First Minister’s Questions last year.
Green MSP Alison Johnstone said: “I’m pleased the Scottish Government agrees with Greens that the stress and costs that women in Northern Ireland face are unacceptable. I look forward to the Public Health Minister replying to me with details of how Scotland will provide free access to abortion for women from Northern Ireland.”
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