§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many legal abortions were performed in 1996(a) with antiprogesterone and (b) without overnight stay in each (i) health region and (ii) district health authority; and how many in each case involved (1) National Health Service hospitals, (2) National Health Service agency arrangements and (3) other purchasers; [17143]
(2) how many legal abortions were performed in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996 on women in each quinary age group, in each (i) health region and (ii) district health authority as constituted on 1st April 1996. [17142]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Dr. Jenny Tonge, dated 25 November 1997:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply, as Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), to your recent questions on legal abortions.The number of abortions performed in 1995 by quinary age-group in each health region and health authority as constituted on 1st April 1995 is published in the ONS publication 'Abortion Statistics 1995' series AB No. 22.The number of abortions performed in 1995 could only be provided to the health authority boundaries as constituted in 1996 at disproportionate cost.The number of abortions performed in 1996 by quinary age-groups in each health region and health authority as constituted on 1st April 1996 are being compiled at present and will be published in 'Abortion Statistics 1996' in December 1997.471WStatistics for the number of legal abortions performed in 1996 with antiprogesterone and without overnight stay will also be published in the Abortion Statistics annual reference volume for 1996 (series AB No. 23).