DHSC won't provide abortion figures

The Department of Health and Social Care says it won't reveal how many women have had abortions on the Island in the past six years.

A freedom of information request from 3FM asked for the total figure but - the department said the figure was already available.

However, an earlier request asking for year-by-year figures was refused because so few women have had the procedure releasing the statistics might identify them.

3FM has asked for a review of the decision not to release the total number.

Yesterday, the House of Keys gave new abortion laws their second reading.