Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the difference between the number of abortion pills prescribed via telemedicine and the number actually taken; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which abortion pills prescribed via telemedicine are being stockpiled by women.

The Department collects information on abortions via the HSA4 abortion notification form, which does not hold this information.

The prescription of mifepristone and misoprostol for abortions is controlled by the Abortion Act 1967 and Human Medicines Regulations 2012. During the consultation, women are informed that their abortion medication has been prescribed for their use only and that it cannot be given to anyone else. In line with the Department’s required standard operating procedures for the approval of independent sector places for termination of pregnancy in England, all providers must ensure women are given information about how to dispose of, or return, the abortion pills if they are not used.