A call was made to reinstate a provision that would require two doctors to sign off a decision to proceed to termination.

Lord Brennan QC, who has campaigned on disability rights, said it was an important safeguard that had served the UK well in the 50 years since the Abortion Act was introduced.

Under the Abortion Reform Bill, the decision to carry out an abortion from 14-23 in cases where there was a risk of serious physical of mental impairment to the child, could be made by one medical practitioner. He said it should remain in the decision of two practitioners.

He also called for additional wording so that any decision was reached ’on objective and reasonable consideration’.

That, he said, could allay fears that a condition such as cleft palate might be used as a reason for an abortion.

When asked whether the requirement for a practitioner to act in ’good faith’, as the bill sets out, already covered that area, he said he was not convinced.

Dr Alex Allinson (Ramsey) said one of the reasons for the two doctors stipulation in the 1967 UK Abortion Act was to offer protection against any potential criminal proceedings against a practitioner.

Lord Brennan, a former president of the Catholic Union of Great Britain, warned of the ’profound’ consequences of the bill, which he said was much more permissive than what was available in the UK.

He expressed serious concern at the wording of the section allowing a termination after 24 weeks, including on the grounds of serious impairment to the length or ’quality’ of a child’s life.