The Department invested additional funds in contraception services in April 2008 (£12.8 million), September 2008 (£10 million) and April 2009 (£11.6 million). In each of the last five quarters (July 2008 to September 2009), the abortion rate was lower than the corresponding quarter in the preceding year. As these decreases in the abortion rate coincide with the period in which the additional investment was available, we believe that the additional investment, and other measures we have taken, has made a contribution towards the decreases in the abortion rate.