HC Deb 03 July 1972 vol 840 cc52-3W
Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many married women resident in Scotland had National Health Service abortions in 1971; and of these, how many were also sterilised.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Notifications have been received in respect of 3,235 married women of whom 1,644 were also sterilised.

Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women resident in Scotland in 1971 had abortions with sterilisation, and how many without sterilisation; and of these, how many deaths were attributed to the operation and how many to other causes.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

The numbers of abortions notified are:

With sterilisation 1,791
Without sterilisation 4,541

Three deaths were associated with therapeutic abortion.

Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many abortions in 1971 in Scotland without sterilisation were performed by vacuum aspiration or by dilatation and curettage before 13 weeks' gestation; and of these, how many deaths were attributed to the operation and how many to other causes.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

The numbers notified are:

By vacuum aspiration 2,336
By dilatation and curettage 1,031

None of these women died.