§ Lord HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that full information about adoption and the 374WA abundant supply of potential adopters is available through the Family Planning Information Service, and all other appropriate channels, to every woman who has become pregnant and is considering the possibility of abortion, and to her advisors.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLThe Family Planning Information Service is funded from an allocation made by the Department of Health and Social Security to the Health Education Council specifically for promoting information about family planning. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Services does not regard adoption or abortion as alternatives to family planning and therefore does not consider it appropriate that the remit of the Information Service should be widened in the way proposed. The Department has circulated to a wide range of organisations draft guidance on the counselling of women considering abortion which emphasises the need for the woman to be informed of the alternatives to termination of pregnancy. This guidance has been revised in the light of comments received and will be issued shortly to health authorities and others concerned with the welfare of women who seek abortions.