Coronavirus: Covid-19 vaccine roll-out. Frequently Asked Questions
This Commons Library briefing addresses commonly asked questions about the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine.

This Commons Library briefing paper provides an overview of recent changes to the law on abortion in Northern Ireland. It covers the changes that were introduced by the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019, as well as the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020.
Abortion in Northern Ireland: recent changes to the legal framework (830 KB, PDF)
The purpose of this briefing is to provide an overview of how the law on abortion in Northern Ireland has changed in recent years. It does not comment on, or add to, the debate on the ethics of abortion.
Abortion is a medical intervention through which a pregnancy is ended. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘termination of a pregnancy’. A medical abortion involves taking 2 different medicines to end the pregnancy, usually 1 or 2 days apart, while a surgical abortion involves an operation to remove the pregnancy from the womb. There were 8 ‘terminations of pregnancy’ in hospitals in Northern Ireland in 2018-19 under the existing law, while 1,053 women travelled to England from Northern Ireland in 2018 for an abortion procedure under a scheme funded by the UK Government.
Changes to the law on abortion in Northern Ireland were introduced by the UK Government through Section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019. The Act set out that Section 9 would come into force on 22 October 2019 if an Executive was not established by 21 October 2019. Since the Northern Ireland Executive was not in place by that date, the following changes to abortion law in Northern Ireland were made on 22 October 2019:
A new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland was introduced, by regulation, by the UK Government on 25 March 2020 following a 6 week consultation. The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 allow access to abortions up to 12 weeks gestation (11 weeks + 6 days), without conditionality, to be certified by one medical professional that the pregnancy has not exceeded its twelfth week. Abortions beyond 12 weeks gestation are lawful in specified instances, including when severe fetal impairment and fatal fetal abnormalities are detected.
The Regulations were subsequently re-made as the Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 on 12 May 2020, correcting drafting errors identified by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. The Regulations had to be approved by both Houses, within 28 days of being laid, to remain in force. The Lords approved the Regulations on 15 June 2020, with the Commons subsequently approving the Regulations on 17 June 2020.
A debate on the Regulations was held on 2 June 2020 in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The motion, tabled by the DUP MLA Joanne Bunting, stated that the Assembly rejected ”the imposition of abortion legislation that extends to all non-fatal disabilities, including Down’s syndrome”. The motion was carried (Ayes 46, Noes 40), though the vote was non-binding and does not alter the Regulations.
Abortion in Northern Ireland: recent changes to the legal framework (830 KB, PDF)
This Commons Library briefing addresses commonly asked questions about the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine.
A Westminster Hall debate on the ‘Pharmacy and the impact of Covid-19’ has been scheduled for Thursday 11 March 2021 at 1:30pm. The debate has been initiated by Jackie Doyle-Price MP.
A Westminster Hall debate on the ‘Maternal mental health’ has been scheduled for Wednesday 10 March 2021 from 2.30-4.00pm. The debate has been initiated by Sarah Olney MP.