HC Deb 24 February 1969 vol 778 cc204-5W
Mr. Brooks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute a study into the effect upon the illegal abortion rate of the provisions of the Abortion Act, 1967.

Mr. Ennals

Precise information about the number of illegal abortions is not available. But comparisons which I propose to make of trends in admissions for abortion (and particularly septic abortions) to National Health Service hospitals before and after the Act came into force may throw light on the effect of the Act on illegal abortions.