In the first major re-examination of the law for nearly two decades, the maximum time span for terminations was kept at 24 weeks, despite claims that scientific progress now means some babies can survive outside the womb before then.

MP for Peterborough, Stewart Jackson, said he was disappointed a move to cut the limit to 20 weeks had been rejected and said the outcome did not reflect prevailing views outside the House.

He said: "I am very disappointed that Parliament did not accurately reflect public opinion, but I think a moral victory has been achieved in that this issue has been properly debated for the first time in years.

"I voted for reductions to 16 and 20 weeks and I was on the losing side, but I was reflecting the views of the majority and of the many people who have contacted me."

MP for North West Cambs, Shailesh Vara, voted for a reduction to 20 weeks as his first preference, but backed 22 when that was defeated.

He said: "The scientific evidence provides arguments for both sides, but I think a small reduction would probably have been the right way to go.

"There is some evidence now that scientific progress has overtaken the time limit and, given that the debate is unlikely to appear again until many years into the future when science will have moved on again, there's an argument for a reduction."

Last night's votes followed long and impassioned debates in the Commons on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

The Government insisted there was no evidence requiring the current abortion laws to be changed, with Health Minister Dawn Primarolo claiming science had not changed the situation since the 24-week limit was set.

She said: "The upper gestational limit for termination of pregnancy was set by Parliament in 1990 at 24 weeks because the scientific evidence of the time was that the 'threshold of viability' had increased and babies were increasingly surviving at 24 weeks and above.

"That was the case in 1990 and it's certainly the case now."

But Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire Nadine Dorries proposed a new 20-week limit, claiming, "There comes a point when it has to be said this baby has a right to life."

Her plan was defeated by 332 votes to 190. A move to bring in a 22-week maximum was thrown out by 304 votes to 233.

Mr Jackson said he looked forward to the issue being looked at again by a new Parliament after the next general election.