§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she wilt seek to ensure that uterine evacuation before diagnosis of pregnancy can only be carried out by registered medical practitioners;
(2) if she will seek to amend the Abortion Act 1967 to ensure that uterine evacuation before diagnosis of pregnancy is covered thereby, and that the statistics relating to abortion can be correctly compiled and recorded.
§ Dr. OwenWe have been advised that this procedure would be an infringement of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 unless carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967 which requires that the treatment for termination of pregnancy be carried out by a registered medical practitioner. We shall, in the light of the Lane Com-180W mittee's recommendation, be seeking views as to whether a specific amendment of the Abortion Act is required.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will seek to amend Section 2(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 to make a breach of the regulations triable;
(2) if she will amend the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967 with regard to the examination of patients and to certification:
(3) if she will take steps to ensure that all medical referral agencies dealing with abortions which charge or seek to charge a fee should be licensed and controlled and no licence granted to any which do not provide medical consultation;
(4) if she will issue recommendations to ensure that abortion patients get day care treatment in all appropriate cases,
Dr. wenThe Lane Committee, which was established by the previous Government, has made a number of recommendations on these questions, but before reaching any decision we intend to await the outcome of extensive consultations which are necessary on the recommendations.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will ensure that girls under 16 years of age who request abortions are given special care in counselling and assessment;
(2) if she will ensure that girls in care who request abortions are given special consideration in counselling and assessment;
(3) if she will ensure that older and high priority women who request abortions are given special consideration in counselling and assessment;
(4) if she will ensure that women who seek successive abortions are given special consideration in counselling and assessment;
(5) if she will ensure that appropriate adequate after-care is available for all patients seeking abortions;
(6) if she will take steps to ensure that adequate after care is available for all abortion patients.
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§ Dr. OwenThe extent and nature of counselling and after-care required by individual patients is a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctors concerned. We intend to await the outcome of consultations on the Lane Committee's report before considering what new guidance is necessary in these areas.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will seek to amend the Abortion Act 1967 in order that there should be an upper limit for abortions of 24 weeks' gestation.
§ Dr. OwenWe shall be consulting widely on this recommendation of the Lane Committee before reaching any decision.