§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of apparent failure to report abortions have been investigated by her Department in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; in how many of those cases the matter was referred for further consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service; how many prosecutions were brought; how many convictions obtained; and what were the sentences awarded in each of those cases.
§ Mr. SackvilleThere have been eight investigations. Four have been the subject of referral to the Crown Prosecution Service. In one, the CPS decided that police inquiries were not warranted after preliminary Department of Health investigation. A second case was not pursued further after the initial Department of Health investigation. Two cases are currently under consideration.