By JAMES CHAPMAN

Last updated at 10:38 20 March 2008

The scale of women's reliance on abortion was revealed yesterday.

As campaigners claimed that termination had become just another form of contraception, figures showed that about 1,300 women had at least their fifth last year.

Almost 950 of those having a termination had already had four. Almost 200 had already had five, 110 had had six before - and 54 seven or more.

At the same time, 61,904 women in England and Wales were having their second abortion last year - up from 58,740 in 2004.

The statistics were disclosed by Dawn Primarolo, the Public Health Minister, last night.

It is thought that they could influence the first major Parliamentary vote on abortion since 1990, which is expected within weeks.

Tory backbencher Mark Pritchard, whose Parliamentary questions prompted the release of the figures, said they were disturbing.

"They clearly reveal some women are tempted to use abortion as an alternative form of contraception.

"The Government needs to put in place an urgent action plan to reduce such incidents."

Pressure has increased on the Government to review the law following concern at a rise in terminations.

More than 200,000 abortions take place each year in England and Wales, up from 175,000 in 2002.

One in ten women in their late twenties to early thirties has had one.

Terminations are permitted up until birth if an unborn child is thought to have a range of disabilities, and until 24 weeks for social reasons.

But research at a top neonatal unit has found that an increasing number of babies born between 22 and 25 weeks are surviving.

In the early Eighties, only a third survived. By the late Nineties, this had risen to 71 per cent. Church of

England, the Roman Catholic, Jewish and Muslim leaders have all demanded a review of the law.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has said the law is being abused to allow abortion on demand.

Meanwhile, amendments to the Government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill - expected in the Commons in May - are being tabled.

They seek to bring the current 24-week deadline for abortion down to 20 weeks in the light of scientific evidence.

Pro-life MPs from the three main parties say a reduction is necessary as medical advances mean premature babies born before 24 weeks have a reasonable chance of surviving.

They want to introduce a week-long period of "informed consent", during which women who want a termination would be advised to reflect on their decision.

Between 150 and 200 MPs, including the Conservative leader David Cameron, are expected to back a reduction in the law in a free vote.

Turnout will be a key factor in whether it can succeed.

Tory MP Nadine Dorries, a former nurse, is leading a Commons-campaign to reduce the legal time limit.

She said: "What harder evidence do we need that the abortion law as it stands is being abused?

"Abortion is supposed to be allowed if a pregnancy poses a significant risk to a mother's health or mental wellbeing.

"But in fact it's being allowed over and over again for purely social reasons. Girls now get pregnant and think, "it doesn't matter, I'll just get an abortion"."

LibDem MP Phil Willis chairs a Commons committee which concluded the time limit for abortion should not be lowered.

He believes more women asking for multiple terminations should be offered sterilisation.

LibDem health spokesman Norman Lamb said the figures underlined the need for better sex and relationship education in schools.

The Department of Health said £26.8million would be invested in 2008/09 to improve access to contraception.

A spokesman said: "Some of this funding will be focused, initially, on those areas with high and increasing rates of teenage pregnancy and high abortion rates."