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Scotland is considering offering free abortions to women from Northern Ireland, it is being reported today.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is said to be examining ways the procedure could be made available in Scotland on the NHS.

The move comes after the Supreme Court last week ruled against women from Northern Ireland being allowed to get an abortion in England on the NHS as they are UK residents, but not living in England. It was reported in November that the Scots First Minister had been considering ways to allow Northern Ireland woman to travel to Scotland for the procedure.

However, the Sunday Times is reporting today that she and the country’s Chief Medical Officer, Catherine Calderwood, are continuing their efforts to make the service available for women from NI.

Women cannot obtain abortions in Northern Ireland except under a narrow set of circumstances and hundreds travel every year to Britain where they can pay hundreds or even thousands of pounds for operations in private clinics.

At the moment women in Northern Ireland can only legally have an abortion if a strict set of criteria are met, including a serious risk to the mother’s physical or mental wellbeing.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government told the Times: “We are supportive of all women having access to safe and legal abortions. We will carefully consider [last week’s] Supreme Court judgement and the implications it may have in Scotland.”

Any move to offer free abortions to Northern Ireland women will be welcomed by some, including Amnesty International who are campaigning for a relaxation of the law on terminations, but infuriate others including pro-life campaigners.