§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost to the National Health Service of an abortion performed at 18 weeks or over.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton), on 26 October, at column178.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the bands of fees including initial consultations payable by patients in private clinics licensed by his Department in 1986 for abortions carried out at(a) under nine weeks, (b) nine to 12 weeks, (c) 13 to 17 weeks and (d) 18 weeks and over.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Department approves the general level of fees in the case of pregnancy advice bureaux, and nursing homes with more than six beds approved for use for abortion cases or with more than 25 per cent. of their total beds so approved. This information on fees is provided to the Department in confidence. The level of fees reflects a variety of factors of which gestational age, in so far as it affects the type and complexity of the operation, may be one; other factors include length of stay in the nursing home and the type of accommodation provided.