§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) consultants and (b) nurses have taken a conscientious objection to abortion under section 4 of the Abortion Act 1967; and what have been the comparable figures each since 1968.
§ Mr. FreemanThis information is not collected centrally.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give a breakdown by regional health authority of the total number of abortions performed in England and Wales under the Abortion Act 1967; in each region, how many of these abortions were performed to save the life of the mother; and what percentage the latter represents of the former.
96W
§ Mr. FreemanThe exact information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost; the nearest readily available information, covering the years 1970 to 1987, is shown in the table.
Number of notifications of (a) total abortions, (b) abortions performed under grounds of 5 or 6 1of the 1967 Abortion Act, by area of usual residence, 2England and Wales 1970 to 1987.
Area of usual residence A B Percentage B of A England and Wales 2,137,120 251 0.012 Wales 101,393 15 0.015 Northern 98,905 21 0.021 Yorkshire 120,448 12 0.010 Trent 159,398 28 0.018 East Anglia 64,424 8 0.012 North West Thames 258,054 24 0.009 North East Thames 229,278 15 0.007 South East Thames 184,154 11 0.006 South West Thames 156,905 14 0.009 Wessex 89,641 24 0.027 Oxford 90,772 7 0.008 South Western 108,272 14 0.013 West Midlands 230,402 18 0.008 Mersey 91,559 13 0.014 North Western 153,515 27 0.018 Note: A =Total abortions 1970–87 inclusive. B = Performed under grounds 5 or 6. 1 The Act allows abortions to be performed in emergency to savey the life of the pregnant woman (ground 5) or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman (ground 6). 2 1970–73: Hospital regions. 1974–87: Regional health authorities.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of abortions that have so far been performed in the United Kingdom under the Abortion Act 1967; how many of these abortions were performed in emergency to save the life of the mother; and what percentage this latter figure represents of the former.
§ Mr. FreemanThe total number of notifications of legal terminations, to resident and non-resident women, carried out in the United Kingdom under the terms of the Abortion Act 1967 from 27 April 1968 to 31 December 1987 is 2,960,234. Of these 142 (0.005 per cent.) were performed under ground 5 of the Act, in emergency to save the life of the pregnant woman.
Complete United Kingdom data for 1988 are not yet available; currently available data, which are provisional, are as follows:
Total Ground 5 England and Wales (1 January to 30 September 1988) 137,103 14 Scotland (1 January to 31 December 1988) 10,003 0 1 (0.003 per cent. of total). Note The Abortion Act 1967 does not apply in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of abortions performed on girls under the age of 16 years have been carried out in(a) non-National Health Service premises and (b) pay beds in National Health Service hospitals in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
97W
§ Mr. FreemanNo data on the number of terminations performed in pay beds in National Health Service hospitals are collected centrally. The other data requested are shown in the table.
Number of notifications of (a) total abortions and (b) those performed in non-NHS premises, on girls under 16 years of age, England and Wales, 1983–87 A B Year Total number Performed in non-NHS premises Percentage B of A 1983 4,566 1,898 41.6 1984 4,609 1,971 42.8 1985 4,427 1,874 42.3 1986 4,240 1,734 40.9 1987 4,075 1,747 42.9
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received(a) supporting and (b) opposing a reduction in the upper time limit for abortions to 20 weeks; what percentage the latter represents of the former; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanSince March 1989 we have received 25 representations; 14 supported a reduction in the time limit. None referred specifically to a 20-week limit.