§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions in total have now been performed in England and Wales under the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967; how many and what percentage of that total were performed in an emergency to save the life of the mother; and if he will give a breakdown by region of that total and the relevant figures and percentages. [6796]
§ Mr. Horam[holding answer 18 December 1995]: The total number of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act in England and Wales on residents and non-residents from 1968 to 19941 was 4,054,340. During this period 140 abortions were performed in an emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary, so as to save the life of the woman. A breakdown by region of the total and the relevant figures and percentages, excluding data for 1968 and 1969, is in the table.
23W
Number of abortions 1970–19941,2 Health authority of usual residence3 Total number of abortions Performed in emergency (F of 5)4 Percentage of total abortions England 3,140,723 100 0.00 Wales 151,320 7 0.00 Northern 147,389 6 0.00 Yorkshire 189,160 6 0.00 Trent 245,489 9 0.00 East Anglia 97,728 6 0.01 NW Thames 379,451 8 0.00 NE Thames 373,285 11 0.00 SE Thames 294,696 7 0.00 SW Thames 234,336 3 0.00 Wessex 143,269 9 0.01 Oxford 144,154 4 0.00 South Western 160,792 9 0.01 West Midlands 351,747 9 0.00 Mersey 141,916 6 0.00 North Western 237,311 7 0.00 Non-residents 683,837 3 0.00 Total 3,975,880 110 0.00 1All data for 1994 are provisional. 2Figures for 1968–69 are not held on a comparable basis. 31994 figures based on 1993 RHA boundaries. Other boundary changes have not been reflected in the figures. 4Abortions performed under statutory grounds 5 (1970–April 1991) and F (April 1991–present)—i.e. where in the case of emergency it was necessary to save the life of a woman.