§ 3. Mr. Selwyn Gummerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have now taken place in National Health Service hospitals since the passing of the Abortion Act; and how many hours of surgeons' time this represents.
§ Mr. AlisonUp to 28th October, 1970, 84,764. Information on surgeons' time is not available.
§ Mr. GummerDoes not this mean that the operation of the Abortion Act has the incidental effect of holding up the opportunities of people who need not desperately urgent operations but operations which will help them because otherwise they will be in pain? In view of this, do we not need an investigation into the operation of the Act as soon as possible?
§ Mr. AlisonAs to the first part of the supplementary question, the effect varies from region to region. As to the second part, I ask my hon. Friend to await the statement which my right hon. Friend hopes to make in due course.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsThe Secretary of State said on 13th July that he would not be extending the licences for any private nursing clinics after the end of this year and that he would be studying all the facts. Can the Under-Secretary assure the House that we shall have the statement before the House rises for the Christmas Recess?
§ Mr. AlisonThat is a separate question. I cannot give any assurance upon the precise timing of my right hon. Friend's announcement.