Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns over New Clause 55 (NC55) to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill.
As I am sure you are aware, this amendment was not selected by the Speaker to be brought to a vote at Report Stage of the Bill earlier this week. The Bill has now completed all its Commons Stages and has progressed to the House of Lords.
The Government has no intention that I am aware of to decriminalise abortion. I am encouraged that guidance for doctors on how to comply with the Abortion Act 1967 has been issued, which stipulates that registered medical practitioners should be able to show how they have considered the particular facts and circumstances of a case when forming their opinion.
At the last election, I was elected on a manifesto to restore confidence in the criminal justice system and the PCSC Bill delivers on the that pledge to constituents.
This Bill seeks to equip the police with the powers and tools they need to protect themselves and the public, while overhauling sentencing laws to keep serious sexual and violent offenders behind bars for longer, and placing greater emphasis on rehabilitation to better help offenders to turn their lives around and prevent further crimes, all of which I welcome.