Abortions and Illegitimate Births

HC Deb 19 June 1978 vol 952 cc88-90W

Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of abortions and illegitimate births to Scottish females aged under 16, 17, 18 and 19 years, respectively, in each of the years 1967 to 1977.

Mr. Harry Ewing

Information by age group is readily available only for abortions notified under the Abortion Act 1967 and according to the age group indicated below. These and the figures for illegitimate births are:

NOTIFIED ABORTIONS
Year
Woman's Age	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977*
Under 16	36	73	117	140	167	230	208	211	218	216
16 to 19 inclusive	189	527	815	1,094	1,518	1,623	1,761	1,804	1,912	1,904
* 1977 figures are provisional.

ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS
Year
Woman's Age	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	7972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
Under 16	90	92	108	110	109	111	138	148	139	130	98
16	197	195	199	217	241	284	272	277	291	272	279
17	392	429	384	447	477	529	508	532	550	521	518
18	578	573	558	561	662	607	716	671	639	639	629
19	626	604	635	637	655	671	699	640	646	629	657