§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the numbers and percentages of abortions performed on pregnancies under statutory grounds 2 (alone) and 3 (with any other) for each week of gestation from 18 weeks to 28 weeks.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information requested is given in the table:
Number, and percentage of all abortions, performed under the Abortion Act 1967, by gestation weeks, and statutory grounds1 2 (alone) and 3 (with or without 2) on residents and non-residents of England and Wales, 1988 Gestation weeks All grounds(Nos) 2 (alone)(Nos) Percentage 3 (with or without 2) (Nos) Percentage 18 3,192 2,827 88.57 181 5.67 19 1,911 1,661 86.92 89 4.66 20 1,495 1,243 83.14 70 4.68 21 948 845 89.14 42 4.43 22 1,035 939 90.72 32 3.09 23 1,039 988 95.09 19 1.83 24 69 48 69.57 1 1.45 25 6 — — — — 26 9 — — — — 27 7 — — — — 28 — — — — — 1 Statutory grounds. Notes:
1. The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.
2. The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.
546W3. The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk or injury to the physical or mental health of any existing child(ren) in the family of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated.
4. There is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.
5. To save the life of the pregnant mother.
6. To prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the child.