asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many abortions were carried out on girls under the age of16 years in England and Wales in 1977 and in 1978 according to (a) premises (National Health Service or approved places), (b) gestation and (c) statutory grounds;(2) how many abortions were carried out on girls under the age of 16 years in England and Wales in 1977 and 1978 (
a) from the 20th to 22nd week of preg-
| LEGAL ABORTIONS TO RESIDENTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES AGED UNDER 16 YEARS, 1977 AND 1978 | |||||||
| (i) According to period of gestation and category of premises. | |||||||
1977
| 1978
| ||||||
Gestation weeks
| NHS
| Non-NHS
| NHS
| Non-NHS
| |||
| Total | … | … | … | 2,614 | 1,010 | 2,326 | 972 |
| Under 9 | … | … | … | 377 | 203 | 324 | 165 |
| 9–12 | … | … | … | 1,386 | 478 | 1,322 | 484 |
| 13 | … | … | … | 232 | 69 | 177 | 68 |
| 14 | … | … | … | 145 | 42 | 109 | 45 |
| 15–16 | … | … | … | 200 | 75 | 146 | 51 |
| 17–19 | … | … | … | 104 | 70 | 94 | 76 |
| 20–23 | … | … | … | 30 | 40 | 36 | 37 |
| 24 and over | … | … | … | 7 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| Not stated | … | … | … | 133 | 30 | 110 | 34 |
| (ii) According to statutory grounds. | ||||
Statutory grounds
| 1977
| 1978
| ||
| 1 (with other) | … | … | 21 | 20 |
| 2 | … | … | 3,557 | 3,222 |
| 3 (with other) (except 1) | … | … | 37 | 38 |
| 4 (with 2) | … | … | 9 | 18 |
| 5 and 6 | … | … | — | — |
| Total | … | … | 3,624 | 3,298 |
Statutory grounds
| ||||
| 1. The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated. | ||||
| 2. The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated. | ||||
| 3. The continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk of injury to the physical or mental health of any existing children in the family greater than if the pregnancy were terminated. | ||||
| 4. There is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. | ||||
| 5. To save the life of the pregnant woman. | ||||
| 6. To prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. | ||||