§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many female sterilisations were performed in the United Kingdom in the latest year for which figures are available: and how many of these sterilisations were performed, respectively, at the time of delivery, abortion, or on occasions other than delivery or abortion.
427W
§ Dr. VaughanThe information is not available for Northern Ireland.
NUMBER OF FEMALE STERILISATIONS PERFORMED IN ENGLAND, WALES AND SCOTLAND IN 1976 Associated with abortion Associated with delivery (NHS Hospitals only) At other times (NHS Hospitals only) England and Wales 8,909* 16,380† 35,120 Scotland 961 2,351 9,208 *Residents only. † Estimated.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence he has received that the present procedures for obtaining a woman's consent to sterilisation are deficient or inadequate in any respect; if he is satisfied that those procedures are at present fully satisfactory; or, if not, what plans he may have to modify them.
§ Dr. VaughanI have no evidence that the procedure for obtaining a patient's consent to sterilisation is not satisfactory. If the hon. Member has any particular problem in mind, perhaps he would like to write to me.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many legal cases have been brought against regional health authorities for sterilsation without proper consent during each of the past five years.
§ Dr. VaughanThis information is not collected centrally.