HC Deb 30 November 1987 vol 123 cc472-81W
Mr. Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown by country of origin of the numbers and percentages of women who travelled to the United Kingdom for abortions in each of the years since the Abortion Act came into force.

Mr. Newton

[holding answer 12 November 1987]: The available information is shown in the tables.

Table 1
Numbers of notifications of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 in Great Britain to women usually resident outside the United Kingdom by country of usual residence, and percentage of all abortions in Great Britain, 1968 to 1980
1968
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 25,195
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 64 0.25
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 48 0.19
Austria 9 0.04
Belgium and Luxembourg 19 0.08
Denmark 3 0.01
France 56 0.22
Germany 620 2.46
Italy 3 0.01
Netherlands 37 0.15
Norway and Sweden 2 0.01
Portugal
Spain 6 0.02
Switzerland 13 0.05
Other European 3 0.01
1968
Number per cent.
Canada 106 0.42
United States of America 185 0.73
Other American 1 ..
Rest of the world 12 0.05
1969
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 58,375
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 123 0.21
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 96 0.16
Austria 7 0.01
Belgium and Luxembourg 150 0.26
Denmark 38 0.07
France 471 0.81
Germany 1,560 2.67
Italy 19 0.03
Netherlands 137 0.23
Norway and Sweden 23 0.04
Portugal 1 ..
Spain 21 0.04
Switzerland 45 0.08
Other European 10 0.02
Canada 382 0.65
United States of America 1,594 2.73
Other American
Rest of the World 30 0.05
1970
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 91,819
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 261 0.28
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 165 0.18
Austria n/a n/a
Belgium and Luxembourg 563 0.61
Denmark n/a n/a
France 2,267 2.47
Germany 3,621 3.94
Italy n/a n/a
Netherlands 816 0.89
Norway and Sweden n/a n/a
Portugal n/a n/a
Spain n/a n/a
Switzerland 115 0.13
Other European n/a n/a
Canada 299 0.33
United States of America 1,601 1.74
Other American 390 0.42
Rest of the World n/a n/a
1971
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 133,110
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 579 0.43
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 216 0.16
Austria n/a n/a
Belgium and Luxembourg 2,111 1.59
Denmark 226 0.17
France 11,986 9.00
Germany 13,560 10.19
Italy n/a n/a
Netherlands 792 0.59
Norway and Sweden n/a n/a
Portugal n/a n/a
Spain n/a n/a
Switzerland 389 0.29
Other European 2 ..
1971
Number per cent.
Canada 67 0.05
United States of America 187 0.14
Other American
Rest of the World 924 0.69
1972
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 167,493
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 975 0.58
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 295 0.18
Austria 257 0.15
Belgium and Luxembourg 2,536 1.51
Denmark 86 0.05
France 25,189 15.04
Germany 17,532 10.47
Italy 480 0.29
Netherlands 243 0.15
Norway and Sweden 93 0.06
Portugal 18 0.01
Spain 730 0.44
Switzerland 675 0.40
Other European 75 0.04
Canada 52 0.03
United States of America 131 0.08
Other American 24 0.01
Rest of the World 321 0.19
1973
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 174,691
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 1,195 0.68
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 306 0.18
Austria 291 0.17
Belgium and Luxembourg 1,463 0.84
Denmark 27 0.02
France 35,293 20.20
Germany 11,326 6.48
Italy 1,172 0.67
Netherlands 101 0.06
Norway and Sweden 78 0.04
Portugal 27 0.02
Spain 1,763 1.01
Switzerland 719 0.41
Other European 155 0.09
Canada 34 0.02
United States of America 104 0.06
Other American 27 0.02
Rest of the World 429 0.25
1974
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 170,508
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 1,421 0.83
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 371 0.22
Austria 268 0.16
Belgium and Luxembourg 641 0.38
Denmark 4 ..
France 36,443 21.37
Germany 5,991 3.51
Italy 1,751 1.03
Netherlands 78 0.05
Norway and Sweden 49 0.03
Portugal 59 0.03
Spain 2,978 1.75
Switzerland 618 0.36
Other European 180 0.11
1974
Number per cent.
Canada 24 0.01
United States of America 63 0.04
Other American 30 0.02
Rest of the World 409 0.24
1975
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 147,029
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 1,575 1.07
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 373 0.25
Austria 87 0.06
Belgium and Luxembourg 403 0.27
Denmark 3 ..
France 14,056 9.56
Germany 3,404 2.32
Italy 5,647 3.84
Netherlands 83 0.06
Norway and Sweden 33 0.02
Portugal 60 0.04
Spain 4,393 2.99
Switzerland 413 0.28
Other European 184 0.13
Canada 13 0.01
United States of America 55 0.04
Other American 32 0.02
Rest of the world 499 0.34
1976
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 136,892
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 1,822 1.33
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 336 0.25
Austria 91 0.07
Belgium and Luxembourg 390 0.28
Denmark 2 ..
France 4,568 3.34
Germany 2,385 1.74
Italy 8,211 6.00
Netherlands 97 0.07
Norway and Sweden 42 0.03
Portugal 38 0.03
Spain 6,397 4.67
Switzerland 308 0.22
Other European 268 0.20
Canada 20 0.01
United States of America 57 0.04
Other American 29 0.02
Rest of the world 611 0.45
1977
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 140,338
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 2,185 1.56
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 389 0.28
Austria 115 0.08
Belgium and Luxembourg 349 0.25
Denmark 5
France 4,143 2.95
Germany 1,705 1.21
Italy 7,549 5.38
Netherlands 88 0.06
Norway and Sweden 37 0.03
Portugal 29 0.02
Spain 10,187 7.26
Switzerland 274 0.20
Other European 388 0.28
1977
Number per cent.
Canada 11 0.01
United States of America 58 0.04
Other American 25 0.02
Rest of the world 709 0.51
1978
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 149,009
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 2,550 1.71
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 413 0.28
Austria 104 0.07
Belgium and Luxembourg 338 0.23
Denmark 3
France 3,187 2.14
Germany 1,171 0.79
Italy 3,912 2.63
Netherlands 79 0.05
Norway and Sweden 16 0.01
Portugal 28 0.02
Spain 14,015 9.41
Switzerland 292 0.20
Other European 436 0.29
Canada 17 0.01
United States of America 70 0.05
Other American 45 0.03
Rest of the world 749 0.50
1979
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 157,530
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 2,809 1.78
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 457 0.29
Austria 64 0.04
Belgium and Luxembourg 231 0.15
Denmark 2 ..
France 3,047 1.93
Germany 722 0.46
Italy 959 0.61
Netherlands 38 0.02
Norway and Sweden 11 0.01
Portugal 36 0.02
Spain 17,062 10.83
Switzerland 234 0.15
Other European 90 0.06
Canada 8 0.01
United States of America 64 0.04
Other American 35 0.02
Rest of the world 820 0.52
1980
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 168,808
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 3,324 1.97
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 484 0.29
Austria 58 0.03
Belgium and Luxembourg 198 0.12
Denmark 5 ..
France 4,117 2.44
Germany 584 0.35
Italy 774 0.46
Netherlands 41 0.02
Norway and Sweden 8 ..
Portugal 41 0.02
Spain 18,342 10.87
Switzerland 179 0.11
Other European 79 0.05
1980
Number per cent.
Canada 6 ..
United States of America 69 0.04
Other American 33 0.02
Rest of the world 898 0.53
n/a Not available.
.. Less than 0.0 per cent.
Numbers of notifications of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 in Great Britain to women usually resident outside the United Kingdom by country of usual residence, and percentage of all abortions in Great Britain, 1981–86
1981
Number Per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 171,487
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 3,605 2.10
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 455 0.27
Austria 58 0.03
Belgium and Luxembourg 153 0.09
Denmark 1 1
France 4,100 2.39
Germany 514 0.30
Gibraltar 31 0.02
Greece 11 0.01
Italy 642 0.37
Malta 41 0.02
Netherlands 41 0.02
Norway and Sweden 11 0.01
Portugal 36 0.02
Spain 20,454 11.93
Switzerland 153 0.09
Turkey 1 1
Other European 15 0.01
Canada 11 0.01
United States of America 91 0.05
Algeria 114 0.07
Argentina 8 ..
Australia 31 0.02
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland 7 ..
Brazil 1 1
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines 1 1
Egypt 7 ..
Ghana 1 1
Hong Kong 6 ..
India 6 ..
Iran 1 1
Israel 1 1
Japan 1 1
Kenya 1 1
Libya, Tunisia 9 0.01
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei 1 1
Morocco 1 1
New Zealand 1 1
Nigeria 13 0.01
Republic of South Africa 512 0.30
Sudan 1 1
Zambia 10 0.01
Zimbabwe 75 0.04
Rest of the World 242 0.14
1982
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 171,470
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 3,654 2.13
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 467 0.27
Austria 49 0.03
Belgium and Luxembourg 122 0.07
Denmark 1 1
1982
Number per cent.
France 3,825 2.23
Germany 365 0.21
Gibraltar 26 0.02
Greece 7 0.00
Italy 626 0.37
Malta 36 0.02
Netherlands 46 0.03
Norway and Sweden 13 0.01
Portugal 50 0.03
Spain 21,415 12.49
Switzerland 106 0.06
Turkey 1 1
Other European 13 0.01
Canada 13 0.01
United States of America 103 0.06
Algeria 98 0.06
Argentina 1 1
Australia 40 0.02
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland 11 0.01
Brazil 7 ..
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Philippines 1 1
Egypt 1 1
Ghana 1 1
Hong Kong 6 ..
India 1 1
Iran - -
Israel 1 1
Japan 1 1
Kenya 1 1
Libya, Tunisia 13 0.01
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei 1 1
Morocco 1 1
New Zealand 1 1
Nigeria 16 0.01
Rupublic of South Africa 563 0.33
Sudan 1 1
Zambia 1 1
Zimbabwe 117 0.07
Rest of the world 278 0.16
1983
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 170,620
Country of Usual Residence
Irish Republic 3,677 2.16
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 462 0.27
Austria 82 0.05
Belgium and Luxembourg 75 0.04
Denmark 1 1
France 3,796 2.22
Germany 298 0.17
Gibraltar 22 0.01
Greece 10 0.01
Italy 617 0.36
Malta 47 0.03
Netherlands 26 0.02
Norway and Sweden 11 0.01
Portugal 36 0.02
Spain 22,002 12.90
Switzerland 110 0.06
Turkey 1 1
Other European 11 0.01
Canada 17 0.01
USA 101 0.06
Algeria 111 0.07
Argentina 1 1
Australia 21 0.01
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland 1 1
Brazil 1 1
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines 1 1
1983
Number per cent.
Egypt 1 1
Ghana 1 1
Hong Kong 1 1
India 6 ..
Iran 1 1
Israel 1 1
Japan 6 ..
Kenya 1 1
Libya, Tunisia 9 0.01
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei 1 1
Morocco 1 1
New Zealand 6 ..
Nigeria 10 0.01
Republic of South Africa 560 0.33
Sudan 6 ..
Zambia 7 ..
Zimbabwe 77 0.05
Rest of the World 293 0.17
1984
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 179,148
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 3,948 2.20
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 454 0.25
Austria 107 0.06
Belgium and Luxembourg 52 0.03
Denmark 8 ..
France 3,931 2.19
Germany 258 0.14
Gibraltar 35 0.02
Greece 7 0.00
Italy 715 0.40
Malta 48 0.03
Netherlands 38 0.02
Norway and Sweden 10 0.01
Portugal 35 0.02
Spain 20,060 11.20
Switzerland 102 0.06
Turkey 1 1
Other European 19 0.01
Canada 19 0.01
United States of America 118 0.07
Algeria 121 0.07
Argentina 1 1
Australia 50 0.03
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland 1 1
Brazil 1 1
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines 1 1
Egypt 7 ..
Ghana 1 1
Hong Kong 1 1
India 1 1
Iran 1 1
Israel 1 1
Japan 1 1
Kenya 1 1
Libya, Tunisia 6 ..
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei 1 1
Morocco 6 ..
New Zealand 12 0.01
Nigeria 1 1
Republic of South Africa 755 0.42
Sudan 1 1
Zambia 6 ..
Zimbabwe 61 0.03
Rest of the World 308 0.17
1985
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 181,062
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 3,888 2.15
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 515 0.28
Austria 74 0.04
Belgium and Luxembourg 50 0.03
Denmark 1 1
France 3,782 2.09
Germany 181 0.10
Gibraltar 28 0.02
Greece 8 0.00
Italy 630 0.35
Malta 53 0.03
Netherlands 34 0.02
Norway and Sweden 17 0.01
Portugal 34 0.02
Spain 17,688 9.77
Switzerland 92 0.05
Turkey 1 1
Other European 12 0.01
Canada 12 0.01
USA 112 0.06
Algeria 124 0.07
Argentina 1 1
Australia 35 0.02
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland 1 1
Brazil 1 1
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines 9 ..
Egypt 1 1
Ghana 1 1
Hong Kong 1 1
India 1 1
Iran 1 1
Israel 8 ..
Japan 1 1
Kenya 6 ..
Libya, Tunisia 1 1
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei 1 1
Morocco 1 1
New Zealand 6 ..
Nigeria 1 1
Republic of South Africa 609 0.34
Sudan 7 ..
Zambia 1 1
Zimbabwe 64 0.04
Rest of the World 329 0.18
1986
Number per cent.
All legal abortions Great Britain 181,835
Country of usual residence
Irish Republic 3,920 2.16
Channel Islands and Isle of Man 566 0.31
Austria 59 0.03
Belgium and Luxembourg 47 0.03
Denmark 1 1
France 3,369 1.85
Germany 141 0.08
Gibraltar 28 0.02
Greece 8 0.00
Italy 664 0.37
Malta 52 0.03
Netherlands 32 0.02
Norway and Sweden 11 0.01
Portugal 49 0.03
Spain 11,935 6.56
Switzerland 64 0.04
Turkey 9 0.00
Other European 15 0.01
Canada 12 0.01
United States of America 87 0.05
Algeria 116 0.06
1986
Number per cent.
Argentina 1 1
Australia 32 0.02
Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland 7 ..
Brazil 6 ..
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines 1 ..
Egypt 1 1
Ghana 8 ..
Hong Kong 6 ..
India 1 1
Iran 7 ..
Israel 1 1
Japan 10 0.01
Kenya 1 1
Libya, Tunisia 1 1
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei 8 ..
Morocco 8 ..
New Zealand 7 ..
Nigeria 17 0.01
Republic of South Africa 517 0.28
Sudan 1 1
Zambia 6 ..
Zimbabwe 69 0.04
Rest of the world 309 0.17
n/a Not available.
.. Less than 0.01 per cent.
1 Less than six abortions.