HL Deb 30 November 1967 vol 287 cc225-7

3.6 p.m.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications were received up to November 24 from places, other than National Health hospitals, for approval under Section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967; and what is their total bed capacity.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)

My Lords, by November 24 100 applications for approval forms had been received by the Minister of Health and nine by the Secretary of State for Scotland. I cannot yet say the total bed capacity of the premises concerned since many of the approval forms themselves which will give this information have not yet been completed and returned.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for that reply. Is November 24 really to be the final date on which these applications are to be submitted, and do the Government think that the available bed capacity will suffice to cope with the possible flood of abortion cases? What additional steps will they take to enable patients who are deprived of hospital accommodation to undergo a proper operation and not to have to seek recourse to the back-street abortionist?

LORD KENNET

No, my Lords, there is no question of the Ministers declining to consider applications which are received late.

VISCOUNT BARRINGTON

My Lords, may I ask whether the Minister regards this figure as satisfactory or as disappointingly low? If the latter, has it anything to do with the, I believe, widespread opinion in the medical profession, particularly as reflected in the presidential address of the President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynæcologists, that doctors do not yet quite know where they are in this matter? Might not this fact have affected adversely the number of institutions which answered the advertisement?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I am not aware of any reason for disappointment in the number of requests for application forms which have been received. I would remind the House that in this field we are talking only about private institutions, not about National Health Service hospitals.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, as the demand for abortion beds may greatly exceed the available supply, both in hospitals and in nursing homes, and as it is often impossible to forecast within a day or two the exact date of onset of a normal confinement, could not unoccupied beds in maternity hospitals be made available for emergency abortion cases as soon as the Act comes into force?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I will brine that suggestion to the attention of my right honourable friend.

LORD SILKIN

My Lords, since the Act does not come into operation until May, is it not rather early to be putting these questions and creating these doubts?

LORD KENNET

I think it is, my Lords. The Act comes into operation on April 26. A perfectly normal process of advertising for applications, of considering applications and of inspecting the premises of applicants is now under way. It has not yet reached a point where one can make any final conclusions.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, before my noble friend carries forward to the Minister the suggestion that maternity homes should be used for abortion operations, will he give attention to the unfortunate psychological effect which this might have on mothers-to-be?

LORD KENNET

My Lords, there are clearly considerations on both sides which would have to be weighed.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, can my noble friend, however, give an assurance that the Government will not be overtaken by the pressure of unforeseen events?

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