§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortion notification forms have been returned since March 1981.
§ Dr. VaughanDuring the period April-December 1981, the Chief Medical Officer at the DHSS returned 6, 710 abortion notifications. This compares with 4, 511 during the same period in 1980.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information his Department has made available in the last 12 months to the Director of Public Prosecutions or to the police as to cases where his Department considers that there has been a contravention of regulations under the Abortion Act 1967; how many doctors are involved; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanThe Department normally undertakes the prosecution of offences against the abortion regulations. During 1981 three such prosecutions were286W brought by the Department resulting in two convictions. However, five cases have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for investigation as to whether offences other than in contravention of the abortion regulations might have been committed. As investigations are continuing it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost of collecting and publishing abortion statistics over the last five years.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe estimated cost to OPCS of compiling statistics over the five year period 1976–80 is as follows:
£ 1976 84, 000 1977 68, 000 1978 71, 000 1979 90, 000 1980 114, 000 Figures for 1981 are not yet available.