Abortions

HC Deb 10 February 1989 vol 146 cc851-2W

Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions at 18 weeks or more gestation were performed during 1988 in cases of rape.

Mr. Freeman

As rape is not in itself a statutory ground for performing an abortion under the Abortion Act 1967, and is not required to be specified on the notification form by the certifying doctor, the exact number of notifications of abortions associated with rape is not available. However, in some cases the information is volunteered, and arrangements have been made to code separately and analyse all notification forms which mention rape from January 1987. Of the notification forms received by the end of August 1988 in respect of terminations performed in the first two quarters of 1988 at 18 completed weeks gestation or over, none mentioned rape.