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Highest ever number of state-funded abortions
London, 30 September 2002--The official 2001 abortion figures show the number of abortions funded by the NHS was the highest ever at 134,705.
186,274 abortions were recorded in England and Wales. 176,364 were
performed on residents.
Overall, at least one baby dies by abortion for every five conceived.
The official government figures exclude 'hidden abortions' by use of
so-called emergency contraception, but still show the third highest total
ever for registered abortions in England and Wales.
The figures show the second highest annual total for abortions on
residents. 9,910 abortions were performed on non-resident women.
Over 75% of abortions are on single women. The factors which tend to raise
the incidence of abortion among single mothers include government policy,
the attitude of some health providers, lack of commitment from the baby's
father and economic pressures. British abortion practice amounts to savage
discrimination against children conceived outside marriage, and is
reflected in serious long-term harm to women - especially in its impact on
psychological well-being.
Paul Tully, general secretary of The Society for the Protection of Unborn
Children, commented: "These figures demonstrate the efficiency of the
systematic attack on human life initiated 35 years ago by the 1967 Abortion
Act.
"Each human life is infinitely precious, and yet the government has taken no effective action to tackle this loss of life on a vast scale. Some countries in Eastern Europe as well as some American states have shown significant reduction in their abortion rates in recent years, but with a strongly pro-abortion government and heavy NHS funding our abortion rate remains appallingly high."
