A Bill to amend the Abortion Act 1967 to exclude cleft lip, cleft palate and clubfoot as qualifying physical abnormalities for the purposes of medical termination of pregnancy under section 1(1)(d).
House of Commons
4 May 2021
This Bill would amend the Abortion Act 1967 to remove cleft lip, cleft palate and clubfoot as qualifying fetal abnormalities for medical termination under section 1(1)(d). In practice, abortions would no longer be allowed solely because the fetus has these conditions; other grounds for abortion would still apply if met. The changes would affect how such decisions are made, subject to parliamentary approval.
The Bill is currently at the Second Reading in the House of Commons. If it passes, it would move to the Committee Stage for detailed examination and then to further readings.
Generated 21 February 2026
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
