§ 3. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals now under construction include provision for family planning clinics.
§ Mr. CrossmanFamily planning advice and contraceptive treatment where appropriate at hospitals are the responsibility of gynaecology departments and such departments are provided in all new district general hospitals.
§ Mrs. ShortI am glad to hear that. Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board area, for example, there is no hospital giving family planning advice? Does he not think that ante- and post-natal clinics, maternity departments and clinics for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases are places where this additional advice should be given?
§ Mr. CrossmanYes. I agree with my hon. Friend. Normally hospitals are extremely busy places—not places where one naturally thinks that contraception advice will be given. We need to encourage the creation of clinics. Many local authorities are advancing rapidly in this respect.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasIs it not an absurd policy for the Government to follow for them to make family planning difficult and abortion easy?
§ Mr. CrossmanI should not have thought that that was so. I agree that there was point in the question in the sense that it is important to make it clear that we believe in family planning as the wisest course and in abortion as a course which represents the second best.
§ Mr. WhitakerMay we wish the Parliamentary Secretary a rapid recovery? Could my hon. Friend say how many local authorities now provide family planning clinics and how many do not?
§ Mr. CrossmanI have not the answer here, but if my hon. Friend puts down a Question I can answer it in detail.