HC Deb 27 May 1988 vol 134 cc418-9W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the range of fees charged by private clinics operating with a Department of Health and Social Security licence for terminations of pregnancy together with the range of gestational ages to which they apply.

Mr. Newton

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 17 November 1987 at columns524–5. He may wish to approach individual approved places direct about the levels of their fees.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of private clinics licensed by his Department to conduct terminations of pregnancy from 1968 to the latest date for which figures are available;

(2) if he will list the private clinics licensed to conduct terminations of pregnancy which have had their licences revoked since 1968 together with the grounds for that withdrawal of the licence.

Mr. Newton

Our records show that in the period since 1968, 110 places have been approved under the Abortion Act 1967. Of these, 38 are no longer approved for the following reasons:

Places
Approval ceased at proprietor's request or because of change of ownership 17
Approval withdrawn by DHSS because of a breach of the Assurances or mismanagement by the proprietors 21

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of applications by private clinics to conduct terminations of pregnancy which have been refused by his Department since 1968 together with the grounds for refusal.

Mr. Newton

Our records show six cases in which an application reached its final stages but was refused. In each case this was because the proprietor was considered unsuitable.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of related prosecutions that have been brought following the revocation of a licence to terminate pregnancy against the proprietors of private clinics since 1968.

Mr. Newton

The information available indicates that of the prosecutions brought under the Abortion Act none has been directly related to the withdrawal of an approval.