§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what will be the estimated cost per year of the use by the Warwickshire area health authority of the services of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service;
(2) if he will give the reasons for the decision of the Warwickshire area health authority to finance abortion agencies in the private sector, contrary to the Government's stated policy on the use of private medical facilities for National Health Service patients.
§ Mr. EnnalsI understand that the Warwickshire area health authority has not yet taken a decision in this matter. I would not regard a decision to enter into such a contractual arrangement as inconsistent with my Department's policy in relation to the use by National Health Service patients of private facilities, in this case facilities provided by a registered charitable institution. I hope, however, that any health authority seeking to meet my known wish that abortion facilities should be improved would examine first the possibilities which exist within the National Health Service. The decision, however, is one for the health authority to take, not only in the light of my Department's policies but also in the light of all the local circumstances, which they are best placed to assess. If all abortions at present carried out on Warwickshire women outside the National Health Service were now carried out under such an arrangement as is being considered, the annual cost to the authority is estimated to be about £47,000.