A simple test for Down’s syndrome should be freely available to all pregnant women, Labour and Socialist MPs said on Tuesday, ahead of a debate with health minister Edith Schippers.

The NIPT test is a DNA test on maternal blood to screen pregnancies for the most common fetal chromosome anomalies and is said to be 99% accurate for Down’s.

However, opponents say giving the test free to all women will increase pressure on them to actually use it and to have abortions if the baby is found to have the syndrome.

The test has been used in teaching hospitals for the past two years on women who have an increased risk of a Down’s child.

The ruling VVD also supports the introduction of the test but has not yet decided whether or not it should be included in the basic healthcare policy.