Birth Control Campaign

The collection is divided into sections as follows:

A Organistion and Internal Matters

B Publicity and Promotion

C Other bodies

D Parliamentary Matters

E Press cuttings

The Birth Control Campaign was the pressure group of the Birth Control Trust (a registered charity), although it was set up before the Trust in 1971. It took political action in the form of lobbying for National Health Services in this field, and defended and promoted existing legislation, such as the 1967 Abortion Act. The Trust, however, published pamphlets on aspects of birth control, abortion and population and acted as an information resource centre: being a charity it could defend existing law but not campaign for changes.

From 1971 to 1974 the Birth Control Campaign campaigned for the wider provision of male sterilisation (vasectomy) and for completely free provision of contraception under the NHS. After 1974, when legislation was passed on these matters, the BCC turned its attention to campaigning for improved NHS facilities for contraception, abortion and sterilisation and for these services to be advertised and promoted. The Campaign was also been actively involved in opposing attempts to restrict the terms of the 1967 Abortion Act.

Acc 800: AGMs, 1971-1982, minutes of Management Committee, 1971-1981, 1987-1992, minutes and agenda papers early 1990s; correspondence, including on free birth control under NHS and late abortions; publications, handouts and leaflets; briefings; Parliamentary matters; papers on time-limit; press-cuttings; miscellaneous matters

Abbreviations used in the catalogue:

ALRA: Abortion Law Reform Association

BCC: Birth Control Campaign

BCT: Birth Control Trust

FPA: Family Planning Association

NAC: National Abortion Campaign

NHS: National Health Service

SPUC: Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child