HC Deb 08 February 1982 vol 17 cc273-4W
Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give his reasons for referring four doctors to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the aboration form HSA4.

Dr. Vaughan

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 25 January 1982.—[Vol. 16, c.285–86].

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what year a full breakdown of details regarding abortions performed was published; and if he will publish such details for 1980 and 1981.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The most up-to-date figures available are for 1979. These were published in July 1981. It is expected that the 1980 figures will be published in May 1982 and the 1981 figures in the spring of 1983.

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why no figures for numbers of abortions performed after June 1981 are yet available.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 27 January 1982.—[Vol. 16, c.371].

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether costs were incurred (a) by the Chief Medical Officer's staff and (b) by other sections of his Department, in addition to the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys costs given in his reply of 25 January 1982, for collecting, querying, processing and compiling abortion statistics for each of the past five years; and, if so, if he will publish the costs.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Although additional costs are incurred by the Department it is not possible to give a precise figure for the collection, querying and processing of abortion notifications submitted to the Chief Medical Officer, apart from salary costs including overheads of two staff involved—£23,000 per annum at 1981 prices.

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what reason it is no longer possible to publish monthly and quarterly provisional statistics for abortions with the same speed after the end of the period concerned as previously was the case.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The new system which will be more accurate than its predecessor takes longer to produce the required statistics.