§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much National Health Service time each week is spent by(a) consultants and (b) nurses in carrying out abortions, and caring for the patients involved.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that this information is not available centrally.
§ Mr. LofthouseTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total number of abortions under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967 in the Pontefract health authority area for each of the last seven years for which figures are available; how many of these abortions were performed on ground four where there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped; and how many of these abortions were performed on ground five to save the life of the pregnant woman.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information requested is given in the table.414W
Notifications of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act 1967 to usual residents of Pontefract health areas, by selected grounds 1980–86 Area of usual residence All grounds Ground 4 Ground 5 (mentions) Eastern Health District of Wakefield AHA1 1980 341 3 — 1981 383 7 1 1982 367 5 — Pontefract District Health Authority 1983 346 5 — 1984 339 3 — 1985 355 3 — 1986 408 10 — 1 Conterminous with Pontefract District Health Authority