§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish details of the number of sterilisations carried out (a) on a one-off basis and (b) with other procedures, for each region;
(2) how many sterilisations have been carried out within each region for each year since 1972, giving separate figures for either sex;
(3) what is the average time spent in hospital by women having sterilisation operations, giving separate figures for each region.
§ Mr. CarterThis information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement outlining fees received by surgeons, etc., for carrying out sterilisations.
§ Mr. CarterThe scale of fees for sterilisation and associated procedures undertaken in hospitals by consultants and other hospital doctors under the arrangements agreed with health and social services boards is as follows:
§ Mr. CarterIt is not possible without disproportionate cost to distinguish between male and female sterilisations or to segregate payments made for sterilisations from those made for other family 181W planning procedures. The expenditure by each health and social services board for sterilisations and other family planning procedures in hospitals from 1st April 1976 to date is as follows:
Eastern (estimated) 40,000 Northern 19,497 Southern 9,978 Western 2,227