NEXT week MPs will vote on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. Each MP will be able to vote according to their conscience on abortion and the treatment of the human embryo. These are among the most controversial issues in our society today.

The Christian Institute commissioned a poll from ComRes, in which more than 1000 adults were asked whether they thought the UK should lower its abortion time limit in light of the fact that in most other EU countries it is 12 weeks or lower.

Most of those interviewed, including three in four women, thought the abortion time limit in Great Britain should be reduced to 20 weeks or lower in line with laws in other EU countries.

Some 58% thought that the time limit should be reduced to 20 weeks or lower, or that abortion should be banned completely. Among women, 73% supported a cut to 20 weeks or lower, or a complete ban, and 41% thought the limit should be 12 weeks or lower.

The UK's current 24-week limit is double that of most other European countries. Of the 27 countries in the EU, 16 ban abortion later than 12 weeks. A further four have a limit of 10 or 12 weeks unless the procedure is approved by a special committee.

The UK's overall abortion rate is among the highest in Western Europe, double the rate of Germany. Last year 13,000 abortions were carried out in Scotland. In the UK more than 200,000 abortions are carried out each year, with 60,000 of those representing a repeat abortion.

In many European countries women considering an abortion are offered counselling and provided with detailed information on the risks associated with abortion. There can also be a cooling-off period for women to think things through. In our poll, 92% of women interviewed said they want those considering abortion to have a statutory legal right to be warned of the mental and physical health risks associated with the procedure before going ahead.

Those who want to keep the status quo claim that survival rates for premature babies are unchanged since 1990. You can only reach this conclusion by completely ignoring the excellent work carried out by specialist units that focus on saving premature babies. If you look at these high-tech units you see a very different position from that in general hospitals. At one specialist neo-natal unit in Britain, five out of seven babies born at 22 weeks gestation survived. And in the last year for which figures are available, government statistics show that 52 babies survived having been born earlier than 24 weeks.

In light of these facts, our poll asked whether the upper time limit for abortion should be kept at 24 weeks, increased, or decreased. Seven in 10 women interviewed said they thought the abortion time limit should be decreased, with 60% of people overall agreeing.

There is growing unease among the public about the high level of abortion. People have seen the amazing images of living babies moving in the womb and there is now clear evidence that 20-week babies can experience pain.

There's no question that women want a lower abortion limit, and MPs should think carefully before ignoring their views on this sensitive issue. Though they are not pro-lifers, most people in the UK want to see our abortion time limit brought into line with the rest of Europe. I hope that MPs will listen to the public's opinion.

Colin Hart is director of campaigning charity the Christian Institute