§ Mr. Alexanderasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence he has of an increase in the incidence of illegal abortions since the Abortion Act 1967 came into effect; what representations he has received on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanI have received no representations about an increase in the incidence of illegal abortions. I quoted certain indicators of the incidence of 487W illegal abortions in my reply to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 19 July 1979—[Vol 970, c. 828–9]. Estimates are now available for 1976 of the number of cases treated in hospital with a main diagnosis of illegal abortion (110) and discharges from hospital following diagnosis of septic abortion (700). These estimates are subject to sampling error as I then explained. The number of offences of illegal abortion recorded by the police since 1967 are:
Offences of illegal abortion recorded by the police
England and Wales Year Number of Offences 1967 314 1968 247 1969 257 1970 212 1971 80 1972 62 1973 36 1974 21 1975 14 1976 9 1977 11 1978* 7 * 1979 figures not yet available.