HC Deb 10 February 1971 vol 811 cc215-6W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provisions there are under the National Health Service for abortion in the county of Lancashire.

Mr. Alison

Patients for whom abortions are to be performed are usually treated in hospital gynaecological departments. There are 30 such departments in Lancashire with a total of 71 consultants and 1,476 beds.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have been carried out in the county of Lancashire since the Abortion Act came into force to the latest convenient date.

Mr. Alison

9,012 up to 30th September, 1970.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have been carried out in the United Kingdom since the commencement of the Abortion Act to the latest convenient date.

Mr. Alison

Up to the end of 1970 there were 160,264 notifications for England and Wales and 10,792 for Scotland. The Act does not apply to Northern Ireland.