§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
For each of the last three years for which figures are available, what was the total number of abortions performed in England and Wales, and in Scotland; how many were performed in National Health Service hospitals; and how many in private hospitals; and [HL2286]
For each of the last three years for which figures are available, what was the cost of performing abortions in National Health Service hospitals and in private hospitals; and [HL2287]
What is the total number of abortions performed under the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990); and, of these, how many were performed to save the life of the mother. [HL2288]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)The total number of abortions performed in, and on residents of. England, Wales and Scotland, in National Health Service and private hospitals, are shown in the tables:
Legal abortions to residents of England, Wales and Scotland, 2000–2002 England and Wales NHS Private TOTAL 20021 73,155 102,749 175,904 2001 76,190 100,511 176,701 2000 81,096 94,791 175,887 1 provisional Source:
Statistical Division, Department of Health
Legal abortions to residents and non residents of Scotland, 2000–2002 Scotland NHS Private TOTAL 20021 11,446 148 11,594 2001 11,975 151 12,126 2000 11,815 180 11,995 1 provisional Less than 0.2 per cent. of abortions performed in Scotland are to non-residents of Scotland. Source:
The Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency to the NHS in Scotland.
The cost of performing abortions in NHS hospitals in England was £32.7 million in 2000–01; £35.7 million in 2001–02 and £38.2 million in 2002–03.
Information on the cost of abortions performed in the independent sector, whether NHS-funded or privately funded, is not held centrally.
The number of abortions performed in England and Wales on residents of England and Wales in the years 1968 to 2002 was 4.73 million. Of these 39,757 were performed under Sections 1(1)(c) and 1(4) of the Abortion Act 1967. These are cases where the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the 134WA life of the pregnant woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated or where the termination is immediately necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.