Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Markham on 21 February (HL2391), when they expect to publish a definitive analysis of data collected in respect of complications from abortions in England; how such information will be used to inform policy; and why they do not intend to publish it externally.

The report comparing abortion complications data from the Department’s Abortion Notification System and the Hospital Episode Statistics comprised of official statistics in development, and was published externally.

Following the publication, the Department is inviting views from third parties on abortion statistics for England and Wales, including the future publication of abortion complications data via an online user engagement survey, and via email. In regard to the feedback received, it will be reviewed and analysed on an ongoing basis to provide a robust picture of the opinions of those using our statistics, and will inform our decision regarding potential further external publications regarding abortion complications data.