§ Mr. AltonTo 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. NewtonI 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.
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§ Mr. AltonTo 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. NewtonOur 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Places Approval ceased at proprietor's request or because of change of ownership 17 Approval withdrawn by DHSS because of a breach of the Assurances or mismanagement by the proprietors 21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. AltonTo 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. NewtonOur 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. AltonTo 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. NewtonThe information available indicates that of the prosecutions brought under the Abortion Act none has been directly related to the withdrawal of an approval.