§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of abortions by method for the North East Thames regional health authority for the latest period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. FreemanThe table shows the provisional number of notifications received in respect of abortions performed on women usually resident in North East Thames regional health authority by method for the June quarter of 1988 (the latest period for which data are available), and the final figures for 1987, which were published on 15 December 1988.
Notifications of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 to usual residents of North East Thames regional health authority (RHA) by procedure 1987 and June quarter 1988 Procedure Area of usual residence North East Thames RHA 1987 June quarter 1988 1 All 18,903 5,116 Hysterotomy (only) 8 1 Hysterectomy (only) — — Vacuum aspiration (only) 11,756 3,005 Vacuum aspiration with D & C or D & E 6,252 1,852 D & C or D & E (including menstrual aspiration) 453 109 Other surgical 5 1 Prostaglandins (only) 203 65 Prostaglandins with other agents 138 34 Other medical 17 27 Other and combined methods 71 22 1 provisional (includes notifications received up to the end of October 1988).