To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions took place under the NHS during each of the past five years; and what the estimated cost was in each year. [40459]

The number of national health service abortions performed to residents and non-residents of England and Wales, for the years 1991–94 inclusive can be found in the relevant year's edition of "Abortion Statistics, England and Wales, Series AB numbers 18–21", published by HMSO, copies of which are available in the Library.The provisional total for the number of abortions which took place under the NHS in 1995 is 108,930.Information on the cost of an abortion is no longer collected centrally. Therefore no estimate can be made.