Abortion (Hansard, 5 July 1979)

§ Mr. John Mackay
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of pregnancy terminations during the last year for which figures are available (a) on medical grounds and (b) on social grounds, at under 16 weeks, between 16 and 20 weeks, between 20 and 22 weeks, between 22 and 24 weeks and after 24 weeks.

§ Dr. Vaughan
Available details are as follows:
719W

§ Miss Richardson
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions were performed at 20 to 23 weeks' gestation and 24 weeks' and over gestation for the years 1977 and 1978; on what grounds these were performed;

RESIDENTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES 1977

NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES OF LEGAL ABORTIONS AT DURATIONS OF GESTATION AND TOTALS BY CATEGORY OF PREMISES, STATUTORY GROUNDS AND AGE OF WOMAN

Gestation (weeks)

20–23 24 and over Total (all weeks)

Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage

Total … … 912 0.89 183 0.18 102,677 100

Category of premises:

NHS premises … 412 0.78 97 0.18 52,530 100

Approved places … 500 1.00 86 0.17 50,147 100

Statutory grounds:^*

1 (with other) … 7 0.83 6 0.71 840 100

2 … … … 698 0.82 132 0.15 85,518 100

3 (with other except 1) … … … 89 0.60 21 0.14 14,834 100

4 (with 2) … … 116 7.87 23 1.56 1,474 100

5 and 6 … … 2 18.18 1 9.09 11 100

Age of woman:

Under 15 … … 27 2.93 6 0.65 923 100

15 … … … 43 1.59 4 0.15 2,701 100

16–19 … … 287 1.17 44 0.18 24,592 100

20–24 … … 226 0.94 56 0.23 24,026 100

25–29 … … 143 0.78 28 0.15 18,270 100

30–34 … … 78 0.51 19 0.13 15,190 100

35–39 … … 40 0.39 12 0.12 10,153 100

40–44 … … 37 0.80 6 0.13 4,638 100

45 and over … 11 2.08 6 1.13 529 100

Not stated … … 20 1.21 2 0.12 1,655 100

Notes:

Gestation period is calculated as the number of completed weeks between last menstrual period and date of operation.

Of the total number of abortions 3.6 per cent. do not have a stated gestation period. These are included only in the total column above.

Similar figures are not available for non-residents of England and Wales: 1978 data not yet available

^* Grounds as listed in schedule 2 to the Abortion Regulations 1968:

1 Risk to life of woman.

2 Risk of injury to physical or mental health of woman.

3 Risk of injury to physical or mental health of existing child(ren).

4 Substantial risk of child being born abnormal.

5 In emergency—to save life of woman.

6 In emergency—to prevent grave permanent injury to physical or mental health of woman.

RESIDENTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES 1977
NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES OF LEGAL ABORTIONS AT DURATIONS OF GESTATION AND TOTALS BY CATEGORY OF PREMISES, STATUTORY GROUNDS AND AGE OF WOMAN
Gestation (weeks)
				20–23	24 and over	Total (all weeks)
				Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Total	…	…	912	0.89	183	0.18	102,677	100
Category of premises:
NHS premises	…	412	0.78	97	0.18	52,530	100
Approved places	…	500	1.00	86	0.17	50,147	100
Statutory grounds:^*
1 (with other)	…	7	0.83	6	0.71	840	100
2	…	…	…	698	0.82	132	0.15	85,518	100
3 (with other except 1)	…	…	…	89	0.60	21	0.14	14,834	100
4 (with 2)	…	…	116	7.87	23	1.56	1,474	100
5 and 6	…	…	2	18.18	1	9.09	11	100
Age of woman:
Under 15	…	…	27	2.93	6	0.65	923	100
15	…	…	…	43	1.59	4	0.15	2,701	100
16–19	…	…	287	1.17	44	0.18	24,592	100
20–24	…	…	226	0.94	56	0.23	24,026	100
25–29	…	…	143	0.78	28	0.15	18,270	100
30–34	…	…	78	0.51	19	0.13	15,190	100
35–39	…	…	40	0.39	12	0.12	10,153	100
40–44	…	…	37	0.80	6	0.13	4,638	100
45 and over	…	11	2.08	6	1.13	529	100
Not stated	…	…	20	1.21	2	0.12	1,655	100
Notes:
Gestation period is calculated as the number of completed weeks between last menstrual period and date of operation.
Of the total number of abortions 3.6 per cent. do not have a stated gestation period. These are included only in the total column above.
Similar figures are not available for non-residents of England and Wales: 1978 data not yet available
^* Grounds as listed in schedule 2 to the Abortion Regulations 1968:
1 Risk to life of woman.
2 Risk of injury to physical or mental health of woman.
3 Risk of injury to physical or mental health of existing child(ren).
4 Substantial risk of child being born abnormal.
5 In emergency—to save life of woman.
6 In emergency—to prevent grave permanent injury to physical or mental health of woman.