HC Deb 16 December 1985 vol 89 cc63-4W
Ms. Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths in Scotland were attributed, respectively, to all maternal causes, all forms of abortion, spontaneous abortion, illegal abortion and legal abortion in each of the years 1960 to 1984 inclusive.

Mr. John MacKay

The available figures, which are classified by the international classification of diseases (ICD), are given in the tables. Figures for the three time periods are not strictly comparable because of changes in the ICD. Also, before 1968 the ICD did not distinguish between criminal and other abortions and before 1979 it did not distinguish between spontaneous abortion and other forms of abortion. The relevant ICD codes are shown in the headings.

Numbers of direct maternal deaths (Complications of pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium including abortion)—Scotland 1960 to 1984
Year All maternal deaths 640–689 All forms of abortion 650–652
1960 35 3
1961 37 5
1962 42 10
1963 39 3
1964 24 4
1965 38 7
1966 24 4
1977 22
Year All maternal deaths All forms of abortion Criminal abortion Other abortions
630–678 640–645 642 640, 641, 643–645
1968 14 1 1
1969 13 3 2 1
1970 17
1971 14 2 1 1
1972 13 3 1 2
1973 16 2 2
1974 16 2 1 1
1975 6
1976 10
1977 13 1 1
1978 4 1 1
Year All maternal deaths All abortion Spontaneous abortion Illegally induced abortion Legally induced abortion
630–676 630–639* 634 636 635
1979 7 1 1
1980 10 1 1
1981 13
1982 6
1983 8 1 1
1984 8

* Excluding 633.