Written question asked by Gerald Howarth (Conservative) on Wednesday, 14 June 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 July 2000. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Monday, 3 July 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) sterilisations and (b) reversals of sterilisation were carried out by the NHS in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1999; how many were requested as a result of people getting married or acquiring new partners; and what the total cost to the NHS was in each of those years. - Inc table and fact that data not collected on reasons why procedures were performed and information not available on total costs to NHS. (Further information on 23.10.2000 at 355 c77W)

Answer: Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) sterilisations and (b) reversals of sterilisation were carried out by the NHS in (i) 1970, (ii) 1980, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1999; how many were requested as a result of people getting married or acquiring new partners; and what the total cost to the NHS was in each of those years. [126838] Yvette Cooper: The following table shows Hospital In-Patient figures for 1980, 1990-91 and 1998-99. Data are not available for 1970 and are not collected on reasons why procedures were performed. Information is also not available on the total costs to the NHS. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Procedure 1980{ 1} 1990-91 1998-99 Female sterilisation 16,954 44,904 48,194 Female sterilisation reversal 6,831 1,556 699 Male sterilisation 651 36,670 35,609 Male sterilisation reversal 652 1,745 896 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} 1980 data were collected via the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry which was based on a one in 10 sample of discharges and deaths from non-Psychiatric and non-Maternity NHS Hospitals in England

Secondary information