New row over abortion counselling The second option is a hybrid system, which would lead to the introduction of a voluntary register of counsellors, which abortion clinics could sign up to. The third is to stop abortion providers from offering counselling and send women for independent advice. But Nadine Dorries, the Tory MP who has campaigned for the change, said it was heavily weighted towards the status quo. It spells out potential objections to each scenario, but those for the change she wants - to introduce independent counselling - run to almost a page, far longer than those for the first two options. "The consultation is massively weighted against the option which would prevent the abortion industry having the right to offer counselling," said Ms Dorries. It is deliberately written to stop choosing that option. The consultation claims the outcomes for women would be worse and that is plainly not true. The clinics deny bias while warning that sending women to outside counsellors will simply delay the process and make abortions more traumatic or the pregnancy too far gone to take place. Ms Dorries is also accusing civil servants of deliberately delaying the consultation, which should have been published in January and is now scheduled for May at the earliest. She claimed that they have done so because there is belief that the position of Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, is vulnerable because of concerns over his handling of NHS reforms. "Civil servants are holding this up," she said. They are deliberately stalling the process. One would almost be forgiven for thinking they are waiting for a ministerial reshuffle. Ms Dorries" first attempt at changing the rules on counselling last autumn with a Parliamentary amendment that caused a huge furore. Ministers appeared to support the change but grew lukewarm in the face of opposition from David Cameron. But in a concession health ministers agreed to a consultation which was expected in January but remains unpublished. An earlier, draft proposal, suggests abortion providers "often have many years of experience in providing counselling" and went on to warn: "Excluding them from continuing to provide this service may lead to a loss of experience and expertise, which could worsen the overall service and the outcomes for women." Ms Dorries points out that last September the health minister in charge - Anne Milton - appeared to endorse independent counselling. In the autumn Ms Milton said: "Whether women want to take up the offer of independent counselling will be a matter for them, but we are clear that the offer should be made." Ministers refused to be drawn on Ms Dorries" claims yesterday. A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Decisions must await the outcome of the consultation process, and it would be premature to discuss details of this process now." A BPAS spokeswoman said: "One of the problems of the consultation is there is no evidence of a problem beyond what Nadine Dorries raised last year. We don't have women who feel they didn't get what they needed. The latest controversy follows growing concern over abortion providers and their practices. Up to one in five clinics is suspected of breaking the law and some even face police inquiries after the health regulator conducted a series of unannounced visits last week. More than 250 clinics were visited and more than 50 "were not in compliance" with the law or regulations. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) discovered that many clinics were not offering acceptable levels of advice and counselling in many clinics.