§ 39. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Health whether in view of the 176 accidental deaths of infants under one year of age that occurred through suffocation in bed or cradle and the uncertainty as to the causation of many such deaths, he will institute an inquiry as to how they can be prevented.
§ Mr. TurtonAn inquiry designed to gain more exact information is already proceeding under the general direction of Professor Banks of Cambridge.
§ Mr. HastingsDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise what extraordinary distress the death of these healthy children causes the parents, and that the deaths occur even with the most careful mothers, and even in hospitals? Can he say when the inquiry is likely to report, so that something can be done to prevent such terrible disasters?
§ Mr. TurtonI understand that an interim report is at present in preparation. The hon. Gentleman will remember that in the Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report for 1954, on page 73, there was a certain amount of detail about the inquiry.