Joe Benton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Joe Benton on 2014-07-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, With reference to the findings of his Department’s Abortion Statistics 2013, published in June 2014, paragraph 2.4, that 81 per cent of abortions in that year were carried out for single women, if he will take steps to reduce the abortion rate by encouraging couples to stay together.

Jane Ellison

51% of the women classified as “single” in Abortion Statistics 2013 were in a relationship but not married or in a civil partnership.

More broadly, the Government’s Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England (March 2013) highlights the importance of building knowledge and resilience amongst young people so they have the confidence and emotional resilience to understand the benefits of loving, healthy relationships and delaying sex.