Sir: May I put in a plea for common sense?
What in fact happens when women are compelled to
have babies they do not want (even if perhaps they ought to want them)? The Evening Standard answered that very vividly recently, when it re- ported: 'It cost local councils more than £29 million last year to care for children whose parents were unable or unwilling to look after them. Only just over £1 million was recovered from parents wt -.0 are liable to contribute according to their means towards the cost of maintenance. The figures were given by Mr Roy Jenkins, Home Secretary, in a report to Parliament. On 31 March last year the number of children in care in England and Wales was 79,996, an increase of 775 on the previous year. . . . The average weekly cost of keeping a child in, care was £6 4s 5d—a rise of lls Id on the previous year—not taking into account administra- tive expenditure.'
I would not for one moment suggest that money is the only, or even the main, consideration in such a context—but surely we ought not to avoid facing the social costs of the question, especially where so many good causes are competing for the same small pool of funds?
M. Vaughan 95 Court Road, London SE9
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