Abortion: Gender Selection

(asked on 7th February 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will conduct a more detailed investigation into sex-selective abortions in England which takes into account (a) women born in the UK to parents of a different nationality and (b) the sub-populations within those countries.


This question was answered on 10th February 2017

The Serious Crime Act 2015 contains a requirement that an assessment be carried out into evidence of gender abortions occurring in England, Wales and Scotland. In August 2015, the Department published an Assessment of termination of pregnancy on grounds of the sex of the foetus on the gov.uk website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/abortion-on-grounds-of-sex-of-the-foetus

A further analysis of birth ratios in the United Kingdom was published on the gov.uk website in July 2016 at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gender-ratios-at-birth-in-great-britain-2010-to-2014

No substantiated evidence was found of gender selective abortions taking place in Britain. The Department will continue to monitor this issue closely through repeating the analysis of birth ratios annually, and working with other Government Departments and researchers. This includes collaborating with a successful applicant to the Economic and Social Research Council on research into son preference and sex selection against females in the UK, which will look at evidence, causes, trends and implications and will begin in April 2017.

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