Pro-life groups attack TV ads for abortion clinics

PLANS to allow abortion clinics to advertise on television were at the centre of an ethical debate today.

Adverts for pregnancy advisory services could be allowed in prime-time slots on major channels and radio after consultation by advertising watchdogs - although adverts would have to stipulate whether the service referred women directly for abortion.

Rules could also be changed to allow adverts for condoms on television before the 9pm watershed under the proposals put forward to lower rates of teenage pregnancy.

Pro-life campaigners said they would oppose the plan. Conservative MP Nadine Dorries, who led calls for a cut in the upper time limit for abortions from 24 weeks to 20, said the proposal was "just plain sick". "I am quite sure that any adverts will depict smiling pretty nurses, gleaming reception areas and leafy car parks. They will not in any way show the fear, anguish, isolation, or subsequent depression," she said.

John Smeaton, national director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said: "It will mean that abortion is promoted as a solution to women's problems."

But one of Britain's biggest pregnancy advisory services, Marie Stopes International - which also performs abortions - said it was a progressive move to help deal with teenage pregnancy. Head of marketing, Julie Douglas, said: "I don't know if we could afford to do it in prime-time TV, but it would be a very interesting thing to do."

The law could come into force following a review of advertising codes by the Committee of Advertising Practice and the Broadcast Committee on Advertising Practice.

BCAP said condom adverts continued to provoke complaints to the ASA but highlighted calls from the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV to relax the rules.

Andrew Brown, chairman of CAP and BCAP, said: "The UK advertising codes are widely recognised for setting a high bar for social responsibility. Our priority is to ensure that the rules remain relevant so that consumers can enjoy and trust the ads they see."

"Throughout this process, we sought the views of industry and policymakers and now we want to hear from the general public."

The 12-week consultation closes on Friday 19 June and the new codes are expected to come into force in 2010.