asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many abortions have been notified as having been carried out under the Abortion Act in the first full year of operation of the Act from 27th April, 1968, in the second full year of operation of the Act from 27th April, 1969, in the third full year of operation of the Act from 27th April, 1970, and in the three months from 27th April, 1971, respectively;(2) what has been the annual percentage increase in the number of abortions notified during the first three years of the Abortion Act's operations:(3) how many abortions have been notified as being carried out, and what percentage of the total abortions notified the figures represent, during each of the first three 12-month periods of the operation of the Abortion Act and in the three months from 27th April, 1971, on the ground that continuation of the pregnancy would endanger the life of the pregnant woman, and that continuation would involve risk to the physical or mental health of the woman greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, respectively:(4) how many abortions have been notified as being carried out, and what percentage of the total abortions notified the figures represent, during each of the first three 12-month periods of the operation of the Abortion Act and in the three months from 27th April, 1971, on the ground that continuation of the pregnancy would involve injury to the physical or mental health of any existing children of the pregnant woman's family greater than if the pregnancy were terminated;(5) how many abortions have been notified as being carried out, and what

Following is the information available:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimate of the annual number of illegal abortions carried out in each of the years since the Abortion Act came into operation.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many deaths have resulted from legal abortions in each of the three 12-month periods since the Abortion Act came into operation on 27th April, 1968: and what was the maternal mortality death rate in these periods from all causes, legal abortions, and illegal abortions, respectively;

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions were notified as having been carried out on women whose normal place of residence was given as abroad during each of the three 12-month periods since the Act came into operation on 27th

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of admissions of women under the emergency bed services in general and in connection with abortions, respectively, in the years 1960 to 1971, by year.

Information in this form is available only for the London area. According to the London Emergency Bed Service, whose records do not identify admissions in connection with abortions before July, 1964, the figures for London are as follows:

The following table gives the available information:April, 1968, and in the three months from 27th April, 1971: and what were the countries of residence of the women involved.

The following is the information available:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time spent in hospital by National Health Service patients undergoing an abortion.

The median duration of stay for patients undergoing abortions in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales in 1970 was 4½ days.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many authorised places there are now for carrying out abortions; and if he will list their names and addresses.

There are at present 53 places approved by my right hon. Friend for the purposes of Section 1(3) of the Abortion Act, 1967, for treatment for the termination of pregnancy. Names and addresses of these nursing homes are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the number of illegitimate births in each of the years 1950 to 1971; and what percentages they represent of the total birth rate.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate the working of counselling services for the handicapped such as exist

The relevant available figures relate to National Health Service hospital doctors in the speciality of gynaecology and obstetrics as a whole. The numbers at 30th September, 1970, the latest date for which this information is available were as follows:in the United States of America and other countries, details of which have been sent to him, with a view to setting up similar services in the United Kingdom.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will introduce legislation to modify Section 52 of the Gas Act, 1948, to permit greater flexibility in the supply and distribution of gas for special purposes where cause can be shown in the national interest;(2) whether he will introduce legislation to amend Section 9 of the Continental Shelf Act, 1964, to enable the Central Electricity Generating Board to purchase natural gas direct from licensees who have made commercial finds on the United Kingdom section of the Continental Shelf.

I will bear my hon. Friend's suggestions in mind, along with others put to me in the context of the proposed Gas 83 Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, why officers of the Pinnock Finance Company (Great Britain) Limited, stated in his Department inspector's report to have committed or been parties to serious offences, are not being prosecuted.

pursuant to the reply given by Mr. RIDLEY, OFFICIAL REPORT, 30th July, 1971, c. 192. I have been asked to reply.In June, 1970 the Director of Public Prosecutions discussed with me the Report which he had received. We decided that police investigations would not be justified at that stage. Of the potential defendants, the principal one had left the country some years previously and his whereabouts were not, and still are not, known. Moreover, some of the essential evidence would have to be obtained from persons living overseas and there is no means of requiring them to give that evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will give general directions to the Gas Council and area gas boards to permit the Central Electricity Generating Board to pipe natural gas purchased in liquefied form from anywhere outside the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom sector of the Continental Shelf from the port of entry to power stations;(2) whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Gas Act, 1948, to enable the Central Electricity Generating Board to pipe natural gas purchased in liquefied form from anywhere outside the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom sector of the Continental Shelf from the port of entry to power stations in selected parts of the United Kingdom.

No such action is necessary. Proposals from the C.E.G.B. to use natural gas from overseas in power stations would have to be considered on their merits.