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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 6 November 2024
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Displaying 954 contributions

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Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Emma Harper

So, the proposal would be to have a map, or the creation of an area, attached to an NHS facility’s website, without necessarily putting up signage at 200m—or an extra distance—around a facility?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Emma Harper

It is a wee quick question on the back of Ruth Maguire’s questions about the west of Scotland and other existing laws, such as the Public Order Act 2023. You said earlier that the bill is about preventing any act of intimidation, harassment or influence from happening in the first place, instead of having to go after a person after an act has taken place.

I know that other countries have created similar legislation. For 30 years, I would go into the operating theatre in the morning; I would sometimes see protests next to my place of work, and I was a young woman when I worked in California. This is about intimidating people who are accessing their workplace as well as those accessing health services, and I am interested to know how we learn from other countries and the legislation that they have implemented. How can we do that, and how can we then use post-legislative scrutiny to see whether further information needs to be added or things need to be revised?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 19 March 2024

Emma Harper

On extending or reducing zones—when we build new hospitals or stop current hospitals from providing the care that they deliver—the provisions in the bill on ministers’ ability to extend or reduce zones rather than that decision going through further parliamentary scrutiny or statutory instruments raised concerns. Should there be further oversight, not just of ministers extending and reducing zones, but in terms of going through a further parliamentary process?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 12 March 2024

Emma Harper

Thank you. I am not sure whether others want to come in.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 12 March 2024

Emma Harper

How would we communicate to the public that a safe zone exists?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 12 March 2024

Emma Harper

My next question is on allowing flexibility for the 200m zone to be reduced or extended, depending on where healthcare is provided. Last week, we heard that the Chalmers sexual health centre is next to a high school. The situation in an urban area might be different from that at Dumfries and Galloway royal infirmary, which I know well and which is pretty rural. It is more than 200m from the perimeter of the campus there to the front doors. There are two front doors—one for midwifery and maternity and one for general visits.

What are your thoughts on the proposal to have a 200m zone, and the ability to extend or otherwise alter it, depending on where the healthcare facility is located?

11:45  

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 12 March 2024

Emma Harper

Good morning, everybody. We have heard a lot about abortion clinics from various witnesses. My understanding is that we do not have stand-alone abortion clinics in Scotland; we have premises that provide healthcare for women. I am interested in hearing about purposeful influencing outside premises that provide a range of healthcare, which could include counselling. Would vigils be needed outside premises, if you could be guaranteed that women were being provided with the range of counselling, other services and knowledge to allow them to make the best and most informed healthcare decisions?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 12 March 2024

Emma Harper

Good morning. I am interested in pursuing questions on the definition of “protected premises” in the bill. There is a future-proofing aspect that might, down the line, include general practices and pharmacies. What do you think about the definition of “protected premises”?

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 12 March 2024

Emma Harper

I see Eilidh Dickson nodding.

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Meeting date: 12 March 2024

Emma Harper

It might bring attention to an area that is providing healthcare for women. The subject of signage has come up, for example. What are your thoughts on how we should communicate with the public on zones and behaviours?