HC Deb 10 January 1978 vol 941 cc1430-1
14. Mr. Townsend

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to reduce abuses in the operation of abortion legislation.

Mr. Moyle

I am satisfied that the present arrangements for controlling the operation of the Act are adequate for controlling abuse.

Mr. Townsend

But does not the main abuse lie in the wide regional variations in the number of abortions carried out under the National Health Service? For example, there are only about 13 per cent. in Birmingham compared with over 95 per cent. in the Newcastle area?

Mr. Moyle

I am well aware that there is a wide feeling on both sides of the argument that more abortions should take place on the National Health Service throughout the country. I have taken note of that for the future.

Mrs. Knight

How does the Minister square his satisfaction at the way in which the Act is working with the fact that that satisfaction is not shared by a very large section of the public, who perpetually make it clear that they are greatly concerned about the Act's working? When will the hon. Gentleman listen to the public?

Mr. Moyle

I do my best to listen to the public always. There is a large section of the public who object to the existence of the 1967 Act altogether, but there is another large proportion who accept it. Dissatisfaction may arise from the fact that we have not done enough to publicise the way in which the Act is operated in practice.

Mrs. Hayman

Does my hon. Friend accept that public opinion is very difficult to discern and that one should view with some doubt any interpretation made by public opinion polls? Given that, is not the interpretation asserted by the hon. Lady the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight) quite wrong?

Mr. Moyle

My interpretation of the situation is that the majority of people are reasonably satisfied with the operation of the 1967 Act.

Dr. Vaughan

Will the Minister give an undertaking that no changes will be made in the legislation without his allowing the House the full debate on the subject which the Government promised some months ago?

Mr. Moyle

That is not a question for me to answer. Whether the subject is debated is, to some extent, a matter for hon. Members. To the extent that the hon. Gentleman is requesting Government time, it is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council.