Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now publish his register of approved pregnancy advice bureaux and announce the date on which it will take effect.
§ Mr. EnnalsI set out below the names and addresses of pregnancy advice bureaux which have been approved for registration for an initial period of 18 months. The register will become effective on 14th March 1977, so that bureaux not registered and approved nursing homes can make any necessary arrangements in the intervening period. Nursing homes approved under the Abortion Act 1967 are being required to give assurances that from that date they will not accept patients seeking abortions referred directly or indirectly from fee-charging bureaux or agencies not on the register.
The register has been compiled after inquiries into the backgrounds of the organisations and principal persons connected with each bureau applying for registration. All the bureaux approved for registration have been inspected to ensure that they are of an acceptable standard in terms of facilities and services offered. Applications have been received on behalf of 40 bureaux in England. Of these, 28 have been approved. Decisions have been deferred in the case of five bureaux where modifications to facilities are in hand or where inquiries are not complete; approved places may continue until further notice to accept patients from these bureaux while they are unregistered. Seven applications were rejected.