HC Deb 14 July 1992 vol 211 cc678-9W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress in addressing the conclusions about the workings of the conscience clause of the Abortion Act 1967 made by the Select Committee for Health in its tenth report of Session 1989–90.

Mr. Sackville

The Government's response to the Select Committee's report was published in May 1991. The action promised in paragraph 10 of the report was undertaken immediately, and the monitoring referred to in paragraphs 5 and 12 of the response continues.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the percentage of hospital discharges, after abortion not legally induced, to live births for 1967–68, 1979 and the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Sackville

[holding answer 7 July 1992]: The information requested is shown in the table.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the percentage of legal abortions to live births for 1967–68, 1979 and the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Sackville

[holding answer 7 July 1992]: The information requested for 1968, 1979 and 1991 is shown in the table.

Percentage of legal abortions, under the Abortion Act 1967, to livebirths for 1968, 1979 and 1991—England and Wales
Year Number of abortions Number of livebirths Rate per 100
19681 23,641 539,259 4.38
1979 149,746 638,028 23.47
19912 177,642 699,217 25.41
1 The number of abortions for 1968 is for the period 27 April 1968 (when the Act came into force) to 31 December 1968. The number of livebirths for 1968 is for 1 May 1968 to 31 December 1968.
2 The number of abortions for 1991 is a provisional figure.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to distinguish in the annual abortion statistics between abortions conducted solely with RU486 and those conducted with RU486 and in addition prostaglandins or D and C and D and E.

Mr. Sackville

[holding answer 13 July 1992]: Published statistics state the method of termination used. From 1992, statistics will include terminations using antiprogesterone (RU486) with prostaglandin.