An unemployed mum was denied a grant to cover funeral costs for her premature baby girl, because she was born before the abortion limit.
Kayleigh Yates went into labour at 22 weeks and despite doctors’ efforts they could not save the child, who was named Lacie.
Kayleigh said: “She was my little girl but they are refusing to accept that she ever existed. Lacie had ears, a nose, 10 fingers and 10 toes. In what way is she not a baby?”
The rules on grants for funerals are based on the Births and Deaths Registration Act and the abortion legislation. The mother-of-two had to rely on money from friends to pay the costs and is now using a Jobcentre grant to pay them back.
She is also raising money for a premature baby charity, and says: “I’m still hurting but I just want to do what I can to help other people”.
Currently abortions in Great Britain are allowed up to 24 weeks, unless the baby is disabled or the mother’s life is at risk. A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “We’re terribly sorry for Ms Yates’ loss. As a department we must be consistent with broader legislation.”
CLICK LIKE IF YOU’RE PRO-LIFE!
Last year two senior Government ministers expressed support for a lowering of the abortion limit.
Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, said he would back a reduction in the legal limit for abortion to 12 weeks. And Maria Miller, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said the abortion limit should be lowered from 24 weeks to 20.
Mr Hunt has previously voted in favour of a reduction to 12 weeks, and he reaffirmed his personal view on the matter. Mrs Miller voted to lower the limit to 20 weeks in 2008. She said she would “absolutely” vote the same way again.
