§ Mr. Hodgsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of procuring illegal abortion have been recorded for each of the years 1967–77.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe information requested has been published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", and is in Table 28 of the volume for 1976 (Cmnd. 6909). The number of offences of procuring illegal abortion recorded by the police in 1977 was 11.
§ Mr. Hodgsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons have been proceeded against for performing illegal abortions in each of the years 1967–77 inclusive; and how many persons have been convicted;
(2) how many prosecutions for illegal abortions have been brought in each year 1967–77 inclusive.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesTo obtain information about the total number of prosecutions for procuring illegal abortions would involve disproportionate cost. The information478W available relates to the number of persons proceeded against whose principle offence was procuring an illegal abortion. The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts and the number of persons convicted at all courts for procuring illegal abortions is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". The latest published information is given in tables 1(a) and 10(a) of the volume for 1976. Figures for 1977 are not yet available.