Abortion (Hansard, 21 February 1989)

§ 22. Sir Bernard Braine
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of abortions at 28 weeks were perforated during 1987 because the child was likely to be born handicapped.

§ Mr. Freeman
In 1987 there was only one notification of an abortion which took place with a gestation period at 28 weeks. This was carried out under ground 4 of the 1967 Abortion Act which statesthere is a substantial risk that if the child is born it would suffer such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.

§ 30. Mr. Amos
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions have been carried out during the last 10 years for which figures are available by each of the six statutory grounds.

§ Mr. Freeman
The information is shown in the table. Comparable data is not available for earlier years.
599W
4. 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, or in emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as imediately necessary—
5. to save the life of the pregnant woman, or
6. to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

§ 39. Mr. Ken Hargreaves
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women in England and Wales in 1988 underwent their fourth abortion operation.

§ Mr. Freeman
The number of notifications of women having their fourth abortion (legal terminations or spontaneous miscarriages) in England and Wales for the period January-June 1988 is 906. Of these, 322 notifications were for women who had previously had three legal terminations with no spontaneous miscarriage.

§ 77. Mr. Hind
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were performed at 18 weeks or more gestation in England and Wales in 1988 to save the life of the mother.

§ Mr. Freeman
There was one notification of abortion in England and Wales in the period January-June 1988 at 18 weeks or more gestation which had been performed under ground 5 of the 1967 Abortion Act which statesto save the life of the pregnant woman".

§ 78. Mr. McAvoy
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of abortions at 21 weeks, 23 weeks and 24 weeks gestation were performed during 1987 because the child was likely to be born handicapped.

Abortions 1987—England and Wales

Weeks 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

All grounds 2,800 1,725 1,363 890 905 903 107 11 9 3 1

1 (with other) 6 5 2 3 5 5 — 1 — — —

2 (Alone) 2,442 1,503 1,181 797 824 855 85 2 2 — —

3 (with or without 2) 157 96 54 32 21 16 3 — 1 — —

4(Alone) 176 108 117 49 50 20 19 8 6 2 1

4 (with any other except 1) 19 13 9 9 5 7 — — — 1 —

5 or 6 — — — — — — — — — — —

Abortions 1987—England and Wales
Weeks	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28
All grounds	2,800	1,725	1,363	890	905	903	107	11	9	3	1
1 (with other)	6	5	2	3	5	5	—	1	—	—	—
2 (Alone)	2,442	1,503	1,181	797	824	855	85	2	2	—	—
3 (with or without 2)	157	96	54	32	21	16	3	—	1	—	—
4(Alone)	176	108	117	49	50	20	19	8	6	2	1
4 (with any other except 1)	19	13	9	9	5	7	—	—	—	1	—
5 or 6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—