§ 64. Mr. Deedesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions to date have been brought under the Abortion Act, 1967.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Merlyn Rees)The only offence under the Abortion Act, 1967, is that created in Section 2(3), relating to contraventions of the requirements of the abortion regulations. There were no prosecutions for this offence during the period 27th April, 1968, when the Act came into force, to 31st December, 1968, the latest date for which statistics are available.
§ Mr. DeedesIn view of the figures that have recently been made known about the number of operations which have taken place within and without the National Health Service, does not that reply strike the hon. Gentleman as surprising?
§ Mr. ReesIt would strike me as even more surprising if there were actual examples which were brought to the notice of the prosecuting authorities. If the right hon. Gentleman has any knowledge here, perhaps he would let me know.