Abortion has been used throughout the world for thousands of years.

In the UK abortion became illegal in the 19th Century when the penalty for 'procuring a miscarriage' was life imprisonment. Women trying to escape the burden of an unwanted pregnancy were forced to use unreliable and dangerous methods, including poisonous drugs, knitting needles, soap or lead solutions inserted through syringes, and blows to the abdomen. Many people were appalled by the number of women suffering and dying as a result of illegal abortion. Pressure for reform finally resulted in Liberal MP David Steel's Abortion Law Reform Bill, which became law on 27 October 1967 and took effect on 27 April 1968. This was amended in 1990 by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act which changed the upper limit from 28 to 24 weeks for most abortions, due to the fact that advances in medicine mean it is now possible to keep some babies alive born after about 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Since 1967, there have been over 20 unsuccessful attempts in Parliament to restrict the law, prompted by pressure groups opposed to legal abortion. However, recent polls show more than 80% of adults are in favour of abortion on request.

The subject of abortion arouses fierce debate. People who are against abortion describe it as murder because they believe that a fertilised egg is a human being, which possesses a soul from the moment of conception, and has the right to life under all circumstances. Pro-choice supporters see the fertilised egg as potential life, based on medical and scientific evidence that the foetus is not viable (i.e. capable of independent life) in the early stages of pregnancy and is still a part of its mother. Pro-choice advocates argue that in fact nature chooses not to allow all fertilised eggs to develop: it is estimated that as many as 25% of pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion or miscarriage.

Abortion has existed throughout history and making it illegal or socially unacceptable does not drive it away - it merely adds to the pain and danger which women are prepared to face to avoid carrying on with an unwanted pregnancy.

If women are to enjoy a healthy, happy life and offer the same to any children they may have, they need to be able to exercise control over their reproductive lives. Not all women are able to use contraception effectively at all times. A request for an abortion is therefore a responsible decision when faced with the prospect of a child that she is not able to love or care for.

No religion actively supports abortion, but some religions accept that there are situations when abortion may be necessary.

The Roman Catholic Church is the only major world religion to rule that abortion is absolutely unacceptable in all circumstances (including the probable death of the mother). However it is only since 1869, when Pope Pius VI declared that 'ensoulment' (gaining a soul) happened at conception, that Catholics have been taught that abortion is always morally evil.

The Church of England and the Church of Scotland teach that abortion is wrong because it denies the foetus the right to life but recognise that there are certain extreme circumstances (for example serious risk to the health of the mother) when her needs override the rights of the foetus.

Judaism teaches that life begins at the moment of birth, however abortion is discouraged except where the mother's life is at risk. Hindu scriptures also only allow abortion under these circumstances.

Islam also teaches that abortion is permitted only in extreme circumstances in which case the actual life of the mother takes precedence over the probable life of the foetus. Some scholars also sanction abortion if the pregnancy resulted from rape. As it is believed that the foetus becomes 'ensouled' at 120 days, early abortion is preferred.

The Free Churches (Baptist, Methodist and Evangelical) hold that abortion is a matter for the individual to decide. The Methodists in particular have been outspoken in their view that personal and social factors need to be considered in each case.

However there are many people whose attitude towards abortion differs from those of their religious leaders. They believe that individuals have the right to follow their own consciences, and women from all religions continue to seek abortions.

Since it became legal in 1968, more than three million British women - about 4 out of 10 women now aged between 16 and 60 - have had an abortion. The annual number of abortions in Britain (not UK) has risen from just over 100,000 in 1971 to 163,600 in 1995, mainly because there are more women of childbearing age but also because it has become more acceptable. About one in five (20%) of all pregnancies ends in abortion.

In 1991, nearly 90% of British abortions were carried out in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. More than half of the women were in their 20s, while teenagers accounted for just under one fifth. Nearly 90% had an abortion on the grounds of risk to their physical or mental health. The number of women travelling to Britain for abortions has fallen dramatically since it has become legal in most Western countries. Of the 9,300 non-resident women having an abortion in 1995, 6,750 were from other parts of the British Isles (including the Irish Republic).

Unplanned pregnancies are not necessarily unwanted but the news can come as a terrible shock. Although contraception is freely accessible in this country, no contraceptive has yet been developed which is 100% safe and effective, and contraceptive failure is currently a major reason for women requesting abortion.

There are many reasons for not wishing to continue a pregnancy: the woman may be too young or too old; it is the wrong time in her life; she is single and lacks financial and emotional support; she has too many other responsibilities; her baby is likely to be born with serious disabilities; she is pregnant as a result of rape or incest; she has no home or secure base; she has a serious disease which would be made worse by pregnancy; there is a hereditary disease in her or her partner's family; she has a large family already; she has relationship or marriage problems.

In the UK (except for Northern Ireland), legal termination of pregnancy may be carried out IF two doctors agree that the woman is less than 24 weeks pregnant AND that continuing with the pregnancy would involve risk to her physical or mental health greater than if the pregnancy was terminated OR that continuing with the pregnancy would involve risk to the physical or mental health of any existing children in her family.

The 24 week limit does not apply IF the woman's life would be at risk if the pregnancy continued OR if there is a risk of grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman if the pregnancy continues OR if there is substantial risk that the child would be born with a serious disability.

Abortion is not available on request. Two doctors must agree and those with religious or moral objections are not legally obliged to help. Even a woman pregnant as a result of rape or incest does not automatically qualify for an abortion.

Many late abortions (towards the 24-week time limit) occur because the woman has experienced difficulty in obtaining an NHS abortion. Pro-choice organisations are currently campaigning for abortion on request in the first three months of pregnancy to minimise the increased medical risks and emotional distress associated with late abortion.

In England and Wales only 70% of abortions are provided free by the NHS (in Scotland more than 95% of abortions are free). Local services vary considerably - some districts carry out less than 50% of local abortions. A woman may have to pay £200 - £500 at a private clinic simply because of where she lives.

Public opinion has shown consistent support for a woman's right to choose abortion.

In 1964, when abortion was illegal, 44% of those asked said that abortion should be legal 'if the pregnant woman is unable to cope with any more children' (49% were against this). In 1965 two thirds of those questioned believed that abortion should be legal 'in some cases'. In 1976, after the 1967 Abortion Act, 55% agreed that 'abortion should be legally available for all who want it'. In 2001, a MORI poll conducted showed that 65% of people asked believed that if a woman wants an abortion she should not have to continue with the pregnancy. Other polls, help to show whether sex, age and religion make any difference to people's opinions on abortion.

In 1988, a poll asked 'Do you think that women should have the right to choose abortion in the first few months of pregnancy?'. 86% of the Church of England members were in favour, as were over two thirds of the Roman Catholics. Of the non-Christians, 7 out of 8 Jews, all 3 Sikhs, 4 out of 6 Hindus, and 2 out of 6 Muslims favoured free choice. Of those with no religious beliefs, 85% supported the right to choose.