HC Deb 29 April 1988 vol 132 c337W
Ms. Richardson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list(a) the interval between each previous abortion performed for resident women in 1986 who have had (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four or (v) five previous abortions, (h) the interval between each previous abortion performed for non-resident women in 1986 who have had (1) one, (2) two, (3) three, (4) four or (5) five previous abortions and (c) the ages of the women on the occasion of each abortion performed.

Mr. Newton

The abortion notification form asks for the number of previous abortions under the Abortion Act 1967 and the date of the last abortion, where applicable. There is no feasible method of linking notification forms in respect of women who have had more than one previous abortion. Thus, the only interval available is that between the current and previous abortion, and I regret that this can be provided only at disproportionate cost.