To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department first approved the practice of using a macerator to dispose of the bodies of aborted unborn babies into the sewage system.

This method has been used in a small number of private sector approved places since the early 1970s.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the methods of disposal of the bodies of unborn babies by private clinics licensed to perform abortions.

It is one of the conditions of approval of private sector places under section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 that the method of foetal disposal is agreed by the Department and that no change is made without prior consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions and for what reasons his Department has withheld approval of the use of a macerator to dispose of the bodies of aborted unborn babies.

None. The use of maceration following termination of pregnancy will not be approved in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement regarding the disposal of the bodies of unborn babies following abortion.

Incineration is the preferred method of disposal following termination of pregnancy.