on The spéculation about the next stage in the Labour Government's attack on the right of women to abortion will all come to an end in the next few weeks. Its plans for the future of the anti-abortionist Select Committee will soon be settled.
On Monday the order paper calling for the reconstitution of this body to consider the James White Bill 'and other evidence will be put before the House of Commons. Once the Parliamentary babour rarty nas met on wednesday, the stage will be set for the vote in PaT ament MPs will then be confronted with a clear choice. Will they agree to the same Select Committee being reconstituted, thus ensuring more restrictions on ular the women Labour MPs. who have publicly committed themselves to a fight on this question this proposal when the crunch comes?
In the past, the women Labour MPs who verbally support the aims of the National Abortion Campaign pracuce uonc an about-turn. Tuc vory restncuons tat arc now being carrica our — whicn unpose quo as on tore! women using abortion facilities, and make it almost impossible for women with late pregnancies to get abortions come from proposals in a Select Committee Report siuned bv several of these women MPs!
The women MPs have repeatedly assured NAC that they will take up a fight in the PLP against the Select CommHICC. DU O HaE DSS SHOuEEHS uRI be launched?
The working class has given a clear mandate to tnese so-caled representa tives". The TUC and Labour Party conferences put the workers' movement on record for the defence of women's rights to abortion, and further, for the extension of these rights so that free abortion is available 'on request'. Yet now we hear that the women MPs are basing their argument on the grounds that "Select Committees cost money".
MISLEADS This kind of argument simply miscaus me worKui cass. bcononic cons iderations in no way enter into the debate on me select commitce. m lact such arguments can readily backfire because mey are orten usca Dy antr abortionists to explain the run-down of the NHS, thus appealing to the concern of the working class over the declining social services.
JOHN MAGEE reports from Belfast have heen fierce in their demands for draconian measures to be used to subdue South Armagh. They have proposed everything from martial law to mining the border.
The assassinations by the SARAF opened the way for the British Government to meet these demands. The response of the Republican movement has done nothing to combat government policy. The Officials have trotted out their usual call for talks between the Red Weekly 1 BRITAIN'S DEADLIEST SC