§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of abortions at 18 weeks, 19 weeks and 20 weeks gestation were performed during 1987 because the child was likely to be born handicapped.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information is shown in the table.
Notifications of abortions which took place with a gestation period of 18, 19 and 20 weeks, showing the number with a mention of ground 4 of the 1967 Abortion Act, which states 261W
there is a substantial risk that if the child was born it would suffer such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicappedfor England and Wales—1987.
A B Weeks All grounds total Ground 4 total Percentage B of A 18 2,800 195 7.0 19 1,725 121 7.0 20 1,363 126 9.2 Total 5,888 442 7.5