HC Deb 30 November 1979 vol 974 c830W
Mr. Pawsey

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have been carried out in each year since the introduction of the Abortion Act 1967.

Dr. Vaughan

The total numbers of abortions performed in England and and Wales in the years 1968 to 1978 were as follows:

1968* 23,641
1969 54,819
1970 86,565
1971 126,777
1972 159,884
1973 167,149
1974 162,940
1975 139,702
1976 129,673
1977 133,004
1978 141,558
* These figures are for only eight months of 1968 (27 April to 31 December 1968).