HC Deb 13 November 1973 vol 864 cc104-7W
Dr. Stuttaford

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions were notified in England and Wales in 1972 as being carried out before the 13th week of pregnancy and after the 24th week, respectively; and what the percentage was in each of the total number of abortions notified in 1972.

Mr. Alison

Abortions notified as occurring in England and Wales in 1972 were as follows:

Gestation in weeks Number Percentag
Under 13 125,706 78.7
13 to 23 31,072 19.4
24 and over 170 0.1
Not stated 2,936 1.8
Total 159,884 100.0

Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many women resident in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Regional Hospital Board area had abortions performed privately in approved places in 1972; and what was the percentage of the total number of abortions notified for the area.

Mr. Alison

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock) on 7th November.—[Vol. 863, c.192.]

Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many legal abortions were carried out in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Regional Hospital Board area in the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and how this compares with national figures.

Mr. Alison

The numbers of legal abortions were as follows:

Abortions performed in
Notified as occurring in year England and Wales Newcastle Hospital Region (b) as percentage of (a)
(a) (b)
1969 54,189 2,810 5.1
1970 86,565 4,385 5.1
1971 126,777 4,767 3.8
1972 159,884 5,133 3.2

Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the mortality rate for legally induced abortions in the Northern Region in each of the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and how this compares with national figures.

Mr. Alison

The numbers of deaths assigned to abortion induced for medical or legal reasons (ICD No. 640 and 641) and the corresponding mortality rates were as follows:

Northern Standard Region England and Wales
Deaths Deaths per 1,000 abortions Deaths Deaths per 1,000 abortions
1969 10 0.25
1970 1 0.21 10 0.13
1971 12 0.13
1972 10 0.09

Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the mortality rate for illegally induced abortions in the Northern Region in each of the years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and how this compares with national figures.

Mr. Alison

In the five years 1968 to 1972 there was only one death, which occurred in 1971, in the Northern Standard Region assigned to illegally induced abortion (ICD No. 642). The corresponding deaths in England and Wales in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972 were 22, 15, 11, 5 and 7 respectively. The number of illegal abortions is unknown and so no sensible mortality rates can be calculated.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions were notified as being carried out in approved places in England and Wales in the first half of 1973; of these how many, and what percentage, were performed on women whose normal place of residence was given as abroad; and what were the countries of residence of the women concerned.

Mr. Alison

The provisional number of abortion notifications received from approved places in England and Wales in the first half of 1973 was 56,321. The analysis by residence is not yet available for the second quarter, but for the first quarter it was as follows:

1973 1st quarter
Country of Usual Residence Number Percentage
All areas 28,561 100
England and Wales 14,386 50.4
Alloutside England and
Wales 14,175 49.6
Scotland 250 0.9
Northern Ireland 234 0.8
Irish Republic 275 1.0
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 61 0.2
Belgium and Luxembourg 515 1.8
Netherlands 29 0.1
Denmark 12 0.0
France 8,356 29.3
Spain 303 1.1
Italy 213 0.7
Austria 79 0.3
Switzerland 173 0.6
West Germany 3,477 12.2
Canada 9 0.0
Union of South Africa 61 0.2
United States of America 23 0.1
Others 105 0.4

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions were notified as being carried out in England and Wales on women whose normal place of residence was Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in each of the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and what has been the percentage increase in each year.

Mr. Alison

The number of abortions notified as occurring in England and Wales for women usually resident in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic were as follows:

Northern Ireland Irish Republic
Abortions in year Number Percentage increase over previous year Number Percentage increase over previous year
1969 96 122
1970 199 107 261 114
1971 648 226 578 121
1972 775 20 974 69