The Methodist Conference, which ends in Edinburgh today, has voted on a resolution that would lower the number of weeks during which an abortion can be carried out.

The issue of reducing the time period for abortions recently made the headlines as a number of religious leaders, including Scotland’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, called on the government to tighten abortion laws.

The Conference reasserted that there is never any moment when the foetus lacks human significance and reaffirmed its desire to see an end to late abortions.

It agreed however that there were “serious concerns” that needed to be addressed before a reduction in the time limit could be supported.