§ Mr. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state (a) the number of abortions which have been performed in Scotland under the Abortion Act 1967 and (b) how many of these abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of a mother.
§ Mr. John MacKayDuring the period 1968–85 128,582 abortions have been performed in Scotland under the Abortion Act 1967, of which 15 were performed in emergency under section 1(4) of the Act to save the life of a mother. Information on the numbers of abortions performed under section 1(l) of the Act, which sets out other grounds for the termination of pregnancy, is contained in the annual HMSO publication "Scottish Health Statistics"; a copy of which is in the Library.