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Catholic World News News Feature

British taxpayers foot $26.5 million bill for abortion tourists April 18, 2005

British taxpayers are paying an annual bill of $26.5 million to fund abortions for foreign women.

More than 9,100 non-UK residents had abortions in England and Wales in 2003-- the latest year for which government figures are available-- each costing $1,000 up to the 14th week of pregnancy and $2,800 at 22 to 24 weeks. Abortions are provided as part of the country's national health care system.

A former worker at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)-- which carries out abortions and then charges the National Health Service for them-- told the Sunday Mirror , "The system is creaking under the strain of foreign women coming here. They know that if they say they are living in a particular area they can get a free abortion without even needing a referral from a GP (general practitioner). Many BPAS workers are very unhappy at the situation but feel powerless to do anything about it."

The source added, "Many of the women come because abortion is either illegal or expensive in their own countries. They are from all over the world, but include a lot from the Caribbean, Nigeria, Mali, and other African countries."

She continued, "They come over and say they are staying with a sister or a family friend in an area where they do not need a doctor's referral. They then come to us saying they need an abortion urgently. Usually, if everything is approved, they could have the procedure within 10 days."

A Department of Health spokesman told the newspaper, "We are going to look into this. Only those legally resident in the UK qualify for free NHS treatment unless it is an emergency."

The latest government figures also show that in 2003 1,220 unborn children were aborted between 22 and 24 weeks old-- an age at which many premature babies can live with little or no medical intervention.

The information was obtained from the health department by Labor MP, Keith Vaz. He believes the figures show why the abortion limit should be lowered.

Vaz told the Sunday Times , "We have got to reduce the time limit. All the research indicates that 24 weeks is too late."