Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 19 December 2017 to Queston 118932 on abortion: childbirth, how many infants having been born alive after a failed abortion were (a) provided care and died and (b) provided care and lived in each year since 2006.

Data on how many infants have been born after a failed abortion is not held centrally.

As set out in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ guideline on Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Abnormality, a fetus born alive after termination for a fetal abnormality is deemed to be a child and must be treated in his or her best interests and managed within published guidance for neonatal practice. A fetus born alive with abnormalities incompatible with long-term survival should be managed to maintain comfort and dignity during terminal care.