HC Deb 06 May 1975 vol 891 cc403-4W
Mrs. Knight

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how infants of 13 weeks' gestation and over are destroyed in State hospitals, following abortions.

Mr. Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how aborted infants of 16 weeks and over are destroyed in NHS hospitals.

Dr. Owen

An infant is a child born alive, and in law, apart from some statutory exceptions, refers to a person under the age of 18 years. If an infant dies, its death must be registered and its burial or cremation be in accordance with the Burial and Cremation Acts. As to the disposal of dead fetuses and fetal material, this is the responsibility of health authorities, and the arrangements they make will vary according to the circumstances of each case.

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