To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of (a) women from Northern Ireland who obtained legal abortion in England and Wales in 1996, (b) women from the Irish Republic who obtained legal abortion in England and Wales in 1996 and (c) women resident in England and Wales who obtained legal abortion in 1996 underwent the procedure in (i) the first nine weeks of pregnancy and (ii) the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. [31491]
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Harry Barnes, dated 2 March 1998:
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on abortions in the first nine weeks of pregnancy and the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
The information requested is shown in the table.
Proportion of abortions performed in England and Wales by gestation weeks on residents of Northern Ireland, Irish Republic, and England and Wales in 1996
| ||
Percentage
| ||
Gestation weeks
| ||
Country of usual residence
| Under 9 weeks
| Under 12 weeks
|
| Northern Ireland | 31 | 73 |
| Irish Republic | 37 | 73 |
| England and Wales | 40 | 81 |