HC Deb 26 July 1985 vol 83 cc811-2W
Mr. Merchant

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many abortions were performed over the last five years (a) in prison and other offenders' institutions and (b) on prisoners and other detained offenders.

Mr. Mellor

The termination of a pregnancy may be carried out only in a hospital administered by the National Health Service or in a place specifically approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. Where such a procedure is deemed by the prison medical officer to be clinically appropriate, and the statutory conditions are met, arrangements are made for it to be undertaken outside prison. Statistical information on such cases is not collected by the Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.