§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the cost was of performing abortions in NHS hospitals in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [165975]
(2) how many abortions have been performed under the Abortion Act 1967; and how many were performed to save the life of the mother. [165976]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe 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 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.
The cost of performing abortions in national health service hospitals in England was £32.7 million in 2000–01, £35.7 million in 2001–02 and £38.2 million in 2002–03.