HC Deb 14 January 1987 vol 108 cc204-5W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, of those abortions performed in the first quarter of 1986 (a) in emergency to save the life of the mother and (b) because of risk to the life of the mother, how many were performed on women pregnant with babies of gestation (i) 0 to 20 weeks, (ii) 21 to 24 weeks and (iii) 25 weeks or over.

Mr. Newton

Provisional figures are shown in the table, which are base on notifications received up to the end of October 1986 for terminations carried out in the March quarter 1986.

Number of notifications of legal abortions to resident and non-resident women by gestation period in weeks, and grounds 1 and 51 England and Wales, March quarter 1986.
Gestation weeks Grounds1
1 5
0–20 103
21–24 1 1
25 and over
1Ground 1. The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.
Ground 5. In emergency, to save the life of the pregnant woman.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services of those abortions performed in the latest year for which figures are available upon women of (a) 0 to 20 weeks gestation, (b) 21 to 24 weeks gestation and (c)25 weeks and over, how many were performed (i) under the National Health Service in National Health Service centres, (ii) under the National Health Service through agency arrangements, (iii) in pay beds in National Health Service centres and (iv) in private clinics.

Mr. Newton

The information available by gestation and category of premises is shown in the table. The category of bed occupied in National Health Service hospitals is not collected in the notification of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967, and information on gestation is not available from the "Hospital In-patient Enquiry".

Number of notifications of legal abortions to resident and non-resident women by category of premises and gestation period in weeks England and Wales 1985
Category of premises
Gestation weeks NHS non-NHS
Total of which Agency1
0 to 20 64,991 103,897 5,904
21 to 24 222 2,702 34
25 and over 27 6
1Operations carried out in the private sector on NHS patients.

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