ABSTRACT
The abortion law permits a termination of pregnancy by a registered practitioner within certain conditions. When the Abortion Act was passed, the upper time limit was left according to the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929, which specified 28 weeks in England and Wales. Abortions in the UK may legally be carried out in certain NHS hospitals, in approved hospitals for the armed services, or in other premises specifically approved by the Secretary of State. In 1982, Marie Stopes International (MSI) joined other members of the UK's Pro-Choice Alliance to launch Voice for Choice, a national campaign seeking what it felt were long overdue reforms of current abortion legislation which, it argues, is failing women, who are faced with discrimination and inequality. In the year 2000 the abortion rate amongst married women was 7.3 per thousand which is less than half the overall average. There are several reasons for expecting a lower rate of abortions amongst married women.
