Abortion Law Review Expert Group Minutes: June 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Professor Anna Glasier – Chair
• Sarah Wallage – Scottish Abortion Care Providers (NHS Grampian)
• Professor Sally Sheldon – University of Bristol
• Dr Lynsey Mitchell – University of Strathclyde
• Professor Anne-Maree Farrell – University of Edinburgh
• Rachael Clarke – British Pregnancy Advisory Service
• Dr Alastair Campbell – Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Professor Sharon Cameron – Scottish Abortion Care Providers (NHS Lothian)
• Dr Carrie Purcell – The Open University
• Jill Wood – Engender – Representing Advisory Group of reproductive rights groups
• Professor Marion Bain – Deputy Chief Medical Officer
• Andrew Lothian – Law Society of Scotland, Health and Medical Law Sub-Committee

Apologies

• Sam Baker – Scottish Government
• Sinead Cook – Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health

Secretariat

• Harriet Rogerson – Scottish Government
• Sean Reid – Scottish Government
• David McIlhinney – Scottish Government, Note of meeting

Items and actions

Welcome 

• The Chair welcomed the attendees to the meeting. 
• Apologies were noted

Discussion of the Westminster vote on abortion decriminalisation.

• The group discussed the vote to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales and effect on review
• The group felt that the vote would not affect the process of the review and was helpful in showing the position in Westminster.

Discussion of final report

• The expert group reviewed the draft report
• The expert group agreed on a number of points around the drafting of the report
• The expert group discussed areas where they felt that there was more consideration required.
• The expert group discussed how best to ensure the report would be as robust as possible with all of the group feeding in to the final report
• A short meeting was agreed for late July to sign off the final report.

AOB 

• The next meeting will be on the 06 August 2025.