Abortion clinic buffer zone law backed by MSP committee

Committee MSPs acknowledged the concerns raised by opponents of the bill who said the proposals threatened their freedom to express their views in public spaces.

MSPs also questioned why the bill proposes a 200m safe access zone, instead of the 150m recommended by experts.

An exception would be the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which might need the radius extended due to its layout.

During the evidence-gathering process, the committee heard concerns that police may find it difficult to determine whether the law had been breached by those undertaking silent prayers.

The report states that committee MSPs had a “difference of views” over the issue of silent prayers, with some suggesting it should be an explicit exemption to avoid the “criminalisation of private thoughts”.

Meanwhile, others said silent prayers “can still be intimidating” to those seeking abortion services. The committee therefore recommended that the issue is discussed further at stage two.