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The government will provide free abortion access for women from Northern Ireland by the end of the year, it was announced today.

More than 700 women a year travel to Great Britain for terminations, which remain illegal in Northern Ireland.

Under the plan, announced today by Tory Equalities Minister Justine Greening, procedures will be free at the point of delivery.

And travel and accommodation costs will be covered for women on low incomes.

Appointments will be booked over the phone and arranged with a clinic in England.

It comes after more than 100 MPs joined a cross-party demand for the NHS to fund abortions.

The Tories were forced into a dramatic last-minute climbdown just hours before a crunch vote threatened to derail the Queen's Speech.

(Image: PA)

Labour MP Stella Creasy, who pioneered the bid said: “It has been a shame on our country for too long that women in Northern Ireland were denied their basic human right to control what happens to their own bodies - today we took a step forward in addressing that injustice, with a scheme that will give them support to come to England for healthcare assistance and I want to thank all those involved in making that happen for their work bringing this proposal to reality.

"But today we also pledge to keep standing with them until they have equal access to abortion services in Northern Ireland itself - our sisters need to have their human rights to be upheld and we won't give up until they have so.”

Ann Furedi, Chief Executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas), said “We welcome today’s announcement, which we hope will provide women with the clarity and information they need at what can be an incredibly stressful time.

"After decades of political impasse on abortion rights in Northern Ireland, the government’s commitment to fund abortion care in England is a policy that will make a real difference. Bpas will also be funding travel and accommodation for those women who meet the government's eligibility criteria until a permanent framework is in place.

“However, funded treatment in England is not the solution to the injustice of Northern Ireland’s archaic abortion laws. We know that even with financial support, the barriers to travelling for treatment will be insurmountable for some women. Politicians, both in Belfast and Westminster, must work to provide Northern Irish women with the care they need at home.”

The announcement comes days before the 50th anniversary of the Abortion Act 1967, which legalised terminations in certain circumstances in England, Wales, Scotland but not Northern Ireland.

The move was welcomed by the London-Irish Abortion Rights Campaign, Abortion Support Network, Alliance for Choice, Amnesty International UK, the Family Planning Association, Bpas, Marie Stopes UK, and Stella Creasy MP.