|TOP|The prime minister has revealed to the leader of the Scottish Roman Catholic Church that he would consider opening a debate on the law on abortion, admitting he is “troubled” by the current legislation.

In the private meeting with Cardinal Keith O’Brien last week, Tony Blair expressed his belief that a majority of MPs may be prepared to reduce the 24-week cut off for abortions owing to advances in medicine that are allowing babies to be kept alive outside of the womb at a younger age.

A source close to the meeting told The Sunday Times Scotland that Blair admitted to the cardinal that there were “very troubling issues” surrounding the 1967 legislation.

“He said he thinks the science of maintaining life has changed and that the viability of the foetus is different from what it was when the act was passed,” said the insider.

|AD|“He agreed there was a case for reopening the debate and he felt there may be a consensus in parliament now on a reduction.”

“He said he thinks the science of maintaining life has changed and that the viability of the foetus is different from what it was when the act was passed,” said the insider.

“He agreed there was a case for reopening the debate and he felt there may be a consensus in parliament now on a reduction.”

A parliamentary committee could be set up to investigate the issue if Blair’s comments are followed through.

An early day motion was tabled last week by Geraldine Smith, Labour MP for Morecombe and Lunedale, calling for such a committee to be established.

The joint committee of both Houses would “consider the scientific, medical and social changes in relation to abortion that have taken place since 1967, with a view to presenting options for new legislation”. MPs would then take a free vote on the committee’s recommendations.

Signatories of the motion include Peter Bottomley, the former Tory minister, and Ian Gibson, the Labour MP who chaired the science and technology committee which called for a debate last year.

Research into premature babies at University College hospital, London, found that while just 10 per cent of those born at 23 weeks survived at the time the abortion laws were last amended 16 years ago, that figure was now four times higher with 42 per cent of babies born in the 23rd week surviving.