§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were carried out on overseas women in the last 12 months; at how many weeks gestation they were undertaken; if he will list their countries of origin; what information he has on the allowable upper time limit for abortions in their countries of origin; how much was paid to private clinics in fees to carry out these abortions; how many were after 18 weeks gestation; and whether his Department requires an anaesthetic or pain killer to be administered to the unborn child before a late abortion takes place.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information regarding the numbers of abortions performed in England and Wales to overseas women, with a breakdown by gestation, is shown in the table.
Decisions as to the drugs and anaesthesia to be given to a woman undergoing an abortion are entirely a matter for the clinical judgement of the doctor responsible for her care.