Abortions (Hansard, 12 February 1985)

§ Ms. Richardson
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps have been taken to reduce the delays in the National Health Service which cause late abortions.

§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke
Following the publication last year of research by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists we are acting on its recommendations in several ways. In particular we shall be discussing with the National Health Service how some of the problems identified in the report can be tackled and consulting the Department of Education and Science on its recommendations about more counselling and health education for young people. We also commend the report's recommendations about the importance of early detection of pregnancy. This is one of the important messages in the first report of the Maternity Services Advisory Committee which we published last year and commended to health authorities.

§ Ms. Richardson
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the number of abortions per thousand girls at each age performed in England and Wales to resident girls aged 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 years, respectively, together with the rate of abortions for this age group for the years 1968 to 1984, respectively.

§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke
The available information is shown in the table: 157W

Legal abortions: Rates per 1,000 population for girls aged 11–16 for 1968–1983, England and Wales, Residents

Year Age at time of abortion

11–16 11 12 13 14 15 16

^*1968 0.86 0.01 0.03 0.10 0.70 1.69 2.63

1969 1.34 0.01 0.02 0.12 0.89 2.62 4.47

1970 2.14 0.01 0.06 0.26 1.22 3.86 7.72

1971 2.82 0.01 0.05 0.22 1.58 5.09 10.83

1972 3.38 — 0.02 0.28 1.70 6.29 13.11

1973 3.77 0.01 0.04 0.30 1.96 6.56 15.06

1974 3.90 0.00 0.02 0.31 1.97 7.00 15.39

1975 3.93 — 0.03 0.31 1.97 7.36 15.17

1976 3.79 0.01 0.03 0.31 1.90 6.68 14.81

1977 3.86 0.00 0.03 0.26 2.04 6.93 14.41

1978 3.77 0.01 0.05 0.28 1.75 6.22 14.51

1979 4.02 0.02 0.05 0.29 1.72 6.65 15.21

1980 4.23 0.01 0.04 0.36 1.93 6.67 15.66

1981 4.17 0.02 0.03 0.26 1.81 6.76 15.15

1982 4.45 — 0.04 0.36 2.04 7.44 15.85

1983 4.72 — 0.02 0.35 2.35 8.03 16.45

^* 1968 Figures relate to abortions carried out in the period from 27 April to 31 December only, expressed as an equivalent annual rate.

Legal abortions: Rates per 1,000 population for girls aged 11–16 for 1968–1983, England and Wales, Residents
Year	Age at time of abortion
	11–16	11	12	13	14	15	16
^*1968	0.86	0.01	0.03	0.10	0.70	1.69	2.63
1969	1.34	0.01	0.02	0.12	0.89	2.62	4.47
1970	2.14	0.01	0.06	0.26	1.22	3.86	7.72
1971	2.82	0.01	0.05	0.22	1.58	5.09	10.83
1972	3.38	—	0.02	0.28	1.70	6.29	13.11
1973	3.77	0.01	0.04	0.30	1.96	6.56	15.06
1974	3.90	0.00	0.02	0.31	1.97	7.00	15.39
1975	3.93	—	0.03	0.31	1.97	7.36	15.17
1976	3.79	0.01	0.03	0.31	1.90	6.68	14.81
1977	3.86	0.00	0.03	0.26	2.04	6.93	14.41
1978	3.77	0.01	0.05	0.28	1.75	6.22	14.51
1979	4.02	0.02	0.05	0.29	1.72	6.65	15.21
1980	4.23	0.01	0.04	0.36	1.93	6.67	15.66
1981	4.17	0.02	0.03	0.26	1.81	6.76	15.15
1982	4.45	—	0.04	0.36	2.04	7.44	15.85
1983	4.72	—	0.02	0.35	2.35	8.03	16.45
^* 1968 Figures relate to abortions carried out in the period from 27 April to 31 December only, expressed as an equivalent annual rate.