Expectant mums getting abortions due to costs - MP

Expectant mothers in Sunderland are "terminating wanted pregnancies" due to the high cost of living, an MP has said.

South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck challenged Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

The Labour politician also said infant and child death rates had "increased in the most deprived areas".

Mr Sunak said the government had overseen a "significant fall in poverty" and that support was available.

Mrs Lewell-Buck referenced a report from the Child of the North All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), of which she is the chair, which saw evidence that parents in Sunderland were terminating wanted pregnancies because they "just cannot afford the costs of a new baby".

She also spoke about the APPG's findings that in the decade to 2021, 50 children aged 16 to 17 died while living in unregulated accommodation, after presenting as homeless.

Mrs Lewell-Buck also questioned if this was the prime minister's "plan for a brighter Britain in action", claiming infant and child death rates had increased in the most deprived areas, according to the BMJ.

Mr Sunak responded by saying what Mrs Lewell-Buck had described was a "tragedy".

"No-one wants to see children grow up in those circumstances, and that is why I am proud that since 2010, with a range of measures, the government have overseen a significant fall in poverty, particularly child poverty," he said.

The prime minister also said support was in place for the most vulnerable families, through the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Work and Pensions.

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