Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill: business and regulatory impact assessment

Scottish Firms Impact Test

The private hospital affected by the Bill confirmed through discussion that they were in general supportive of the Bill’s aims and the approach of applying zones automatically. They noted that some of their staff also work at hospitals within the NHS and have first-hand experiences of anti-abortion activity. When asked whether they were concerned about any negative impacts of safe access zones, they noted that publicity around the existence of zones could potentially make their services a target as it is not currently widely known that they provide abortion services. The most appropriate way to communicate safe access zones will be considered as the Bill progresses through Parliament, and will seek to strike the right balance between raising awareness of zones and maintaining the anonymity of those accessing and providing services.