§ Mr. Nicholas Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of convictions in England and Wales for procuring an illegal abortion in each year since 1957.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information requested is given in the table. Details of proceedings for procuring an illegal abortion are published annually in tables S1.1(A) and S2.1(A) of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables, Vols, 1 and 2", under offence classification 14.
Persons found guilty of procuring an illegal abortion 1 England and Wales Number of persons 2 Year Found guilty 1957 40 1958 40 1959 42 1960 42 1961 55 1962 82 1963 54 1964 63 1965 60 1966 56 1967 65 1968 60 1969 52 1970 41 1971 36 1972 26 1973 8 1974 11 1975 1 1976 4 1977 2 1978 2 1979 — 1980 4 1981 — 1982 — 1983 3 1984 2 1985 — 1986 2 1Includes offences under section 59 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861. 2As shown by the records held centrally, which are approximate.