§ 30. Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health whether he can furnish any explanation of the wide differences in the maternal mortality rates of 1,000 births in the following urban districts of not dissimilar characteristics: Rochdale, where the rate was 2.71, Huddersfield, where it was 8.81, Cardigan, where it was 9.60, and Merioneth, where it was 4.80?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREMy right hon. Friend is not at present in a position to explain these differences, but, as my hon. Friend is aware, special investigations are being directed into the circumstances of the areas where there is a persistently high maternal mortality rate.
Viscountess ASTORWill these investigations be honest? Will they go into questions which are not popular and face up to them? Does the hon. Member not think that only in this way shall we get at the root of this maternal mortality?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI have no doubt that the investigation will be searching.
Mr. WESTIs it not the case that the lowest maternal death-rates are to be found in those districts where the highest proportion of cases are sent to municipal maternity hospitals?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that maternal mortality is abnormally low in districts which are very poor?
Mr. WESTYes, in the poorest districts where most of the cases are sent to municipal hospitals. That accounts for the low maternal mortality.
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe factors which govern maternal mortality are so varied and complicated that it is quite impossible to deal with them by question and answer.