HC Deb 14 January 1985 vol 71 cc66-7W
Mr. Terry Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies have been carried out over the last 12 years into the cost effectiveness of contraception, sterilisation and abortion services; and what were the findings.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The only major study in this country of which we are aware is "Family Planning— the Benefits and Costs" by W. A. Laing, published by the Policy Studies Institute in May 1982. This concluded that the costs associated with an unplanned pregnancy were significantly greater than those of measures designed to prevent it.