HC Deb 18 March 1987 vol 112 cc504-5W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions during the last 12 months officials of his Department have visited the Leicester Nuffield clinic, Scraptoft Lane, Leicester in order to monitor the implementation of the Abortion Act and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act.

Mr. Newton

The Leicester Nuffield clinic, which has only two beds approved under the Abortion Act, has not been visited in the last 12 months.

Mr. David Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions during the last 12 months officials of his Department have visited the abortion clinic at Dean Park nursing home, Bournemouth, in order to monitor the implementation of the Abortion Act and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act.

Mr. Newton

The Dean Park nursing home has received one visit of inspection under the Abortion Act during the last 12 months.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions during the last 12 months officials of his Department have visited the Wellesley hospital, Southend on Sea, Essex, in order to monitor the implementation of the Abortion Act and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act.

Mr. Newton

The Wellesley hospital, which has only two beds approved under the Abortion Act, has not been visited in the last 12 months.

Mr. Thurnham

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide details of each death notified with legal abortions in England and Wales from 1982 to 1986, listed by (a) duration of pregnancy (i) under nine weeks (ii) nine to 12 weeks, (iii) 13 to 16 weeks, (iv) 17 to 19 weeks and (v) 20 weeks or over and (b) the abortion procedures and showing whether sterilisation was notified concurrently.

Mr. Newton

The information is shown in the table.

Number of notifications of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967, specifying death of woman, by gestation, procedure and whether sterilization was performed England and Wales—1982 to 1986
Year Number Gestation Procedure Sterlisation
1982 3 cases 11 weeks Vacuum aspiration Yes
12 weeks Vacuum aspiration Hysterectomy
15 weeks D & C No
1983 1 case 8 weeks Vacuum aspiration Not stated
1984 3 cases 14 weeks Prostaglandins only Not stated
17 weeks Vacuum aspiration and D & C No
12 weeks Vacuum aspiration Yes
1985 2 cases 6 weeks Vacuum aspiration Not stated
Year Number Gestation Procedure Sterlisation
8 weeks Vacuum aspiration No
1986 nil1
1 Provisional figure for notifications received by end of December 1986.

These statistics may exclude deaths occurring after the notification of the abortion.

Mr. Thurnham

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of legal abortions without sterilisation performed in England and Wales from 1968 to 1986 (a) by gestation period of (i) under nine weeks, (ii) nine to 12 weeks, (iii) 13 to 16 weeks and (iv) 17 to 19 weeks and (b) by main procedure (1) aspiration, (2) D and C or D and E, (3) hysterotomy, (4) laminaria tents, (5) prostaglandines, (6) saline and (7) utus paste.

Mr. Newton

I regret that the exact information requested can he provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the available information on all abortions by period of gestation and procedure is shown in the following publications: "Registrar General's Statistical Review—Supplement on Abortion 1968–1973," table 13. "Abortion Statistics Series AB," table 3.1 1974–1980, table 14 1981–1985. Copies of these volumes are in the Library.

Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions during the last 12 months officials of his Department have visited the abortion clinic at Hampshire clinic, Basingstoke, in order to monitor the implementation of the Abortion Act and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act.

Mr. Newton

The Hampshire clinic has only two beds approved under the Abortion Act. Approval was granted in June 1986. Prior to approval the hospital received two visits of inspection in February and April 1986. It has not been visited since that time.

Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions during the last 12 months officials of his Department have visited the abortion clinic at Highfield hospital in Rochdale in order to monitor the implementation of the Abortion Act and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act.

Mr. Newton

The Highfield hospital, which has only three beds approved under the Abortion Act, has been visited once in the last 12 months.

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