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| Abortion increase in young girls | Abortion increase in young girls |
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| The number of abortions among girls aged under 16 rose by 10% to 4,376 in 2007, official figures for England and Wales show. | The number of abortions among girls aged under 16 rose by 10% to 4,376 in 2007, official figures for England and Wales show. |
| In the under 14s, abortions rose by 21% from 135 in 2006 to 163 last year. | In the under 14s, abortions rose by 21% from 135 in 2006 to 163 last year. |
| The number of abortions in all women rose by 2.5% to reach an all time high of almost 200,000. | |
| Government advisers called for high quality sex education at school and investment in contraception services for young people. | Government advisers called for high quality sex education at school and investment in contraception services for young people. |
| Scotland has also seen a rise in the number of abortions with figures published in May showing there were 13,703 carried out in 2007 compared with 13,163 in 2006. | Scotland has also seen a rise in the number of abortions with figures published in May showing there were 13,703 carried out in 2007 compared with 13,163 in 2006. |
| The number of abortions carried out has been rising ever since the 1967 Abortion Act - with just over 22,000 terminations in the first year. | The number of abortions carried out has been rising ever since the 1967 Abortion Act - with just over 22,000 terminations in the first year. |
| Early-stage | Early-stage |
| Some 90% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks' gestation and 70% were at under 10 weeks, a slight increase on last year's figures. | Some 90% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks' gestation and 70% were at under 10 weeks, a slight increase on last year's figures. |
| We need high quality sex and relationships education at school and at home and effective contraception Gill Frances, Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group | We need high quality sex and relationships education at school and at home and effective contraception Gill Frances, Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group |
| A total of 198,499 abortions were carried out in 2007. | |
| The number of terminations carried out using the "abortion pill" was 35% up from 30% in 2006. | The number of terminations carried out using the "abortion pill" was 35% up from 30% in 2006. |
| Around 1% of abortions were carried out on the grounds that the child would be born disabled. | Around 1% of abortions were carried out on the grounds that the child would be born disabled. |
| Gill Frances, chair of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group, said: "We know what works to reduce abortion amongst teenagers. | Gill Frances, chair of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group, said: "We know what works to reduce abortion amongst teenagers. |
| "We need high quality sex and relationships education at school and at home and effective contraception. | "We need high quality sex and relationships education at school and at home and effective contraception. |
| "Primary Care Trusts must ensure they are investing in contraceptive services for young people." | "Primary Care Trusts must ensure they are investing in contraceptive services for young people." |
| She added that PCTs had been given £13m to improve contraceptive services but because the money had not been ring-fenced there was a danger it would be spent on other services. | She added that PCTs had been given £13m to improve contraceptive services but because the money had not been ring-fenced there was a danger it would be spent on other services. |
| Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said the figures showed considerable progress in reducing waiting times for abortion, with two-thirds of women now having a termination at under 10 weeks. | Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said the figures showed considerable progress in reducing waiting times for abortion, with two-thirds of women now having a termination at under 10 weeks. |
| She added: "Contraception plays a vital role in preventing teenage pregnancy and earlier this year I announced a further investment of £26.8m to improve women's access to contraception and help reduce the number of abortions, repeat abortions and teenage pregnancies." | She added: "Contraception plays a vital role in preventing teenage pregnancy and earlier this year I announced a further investment of £26.8m to improve women's access to contraception and help reduce the number of abortions, repeat abortions and teenage pregnancies." |
| Precautions | Precautions |
| Claire Curtis Thomas MP, a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group said: "These figures show that far from further liberalising the law as some MPs want to do, there is a real need to tighten it up, to show a greater regard for the unborn child. | Claire Curtis Thomas MP, a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group said: "These figures show that far from further liberalising the law as some MPs want to do, there is a real need to tighten it up, to show a greater regard for the unborn child. |
| "The numbers of UK abortions are truly horrifying. | "The numbers of UK abortions are truly horrifying. |
| "We should be putting all our effort into reducing these numbers through sensible precautions such as offering a full range of information to women considering abortion." | "We should be putting all our effort into reducing these numbers through sensible precautions such as offering a full range of information to women considering abortion." |
| Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: "Much more needs to be done to equip young people to deal with the complexities of their personal relationships and to empower them to ask for high quality, user-friendly forms of contraception without embarrassment. | Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: "Much more needs to be done to equip young people to deal with the complexities of their personal relationships and to empower them to ask for high quality, user-friendly forms of contraception without embarrassment. |
| Julie Bentley, chief executive at the FPA (Family Planning Association) said sex and relationship education should be compulsory in every school. | Julie Bentley, chief executive at the FPA (Family Planning Association) said sex and relationship education should be compulsory in every school. |
| "Younger women are making different choices about their lives and choosing abortion over motherhood, but education and contraceptive services will stop them becoming pregnant in the first place." | "Younger women are making different choices about their lives and choosing abortion over motherhood, but education and contraceptive services will stop them becoming pregnant in the first place." |