§ Lord Braine of Wheatleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many of the abortions performed on girls under 16 years in each of the last five years were performed without the knowledge or permission of a parent or guardian. [HL621]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThis information is not collected centrally.
An abortion should only be performed on a girl under 16 without the permission of a parent or guardian if, in the clinical judgment of the doctor concerned, it is in the patient's best medical interest and she has sufficient maturity and understanding to appreciate what is involved.