HC Deb 19 April 1983 vol 41 c147
3. Miss Joan Lestor

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to revise his Department's "Human Relations in Obstetrics", published in 1961; and if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg)

The series of reports being prepared by the maternity services advisory committee on good practice in maternity and neonatal care will, when complete, supersede the 1961 memorandum. The committee's first report, on antenatal care, gave prominence to human relations aspects and has been well received by professional and lay bodies. We look forward to receiving its second report, on care during childbirth, later this year and its third, on postnatal and neonatal care, in the course of next year.

Miss Lestor

I welcome that reply from the Minister, but is he aware that the report is long overdue, since the present report and recommendations on "Human Relations in Obstetrics" is more than 20 years old. When the Minister examines the various reports that he will be compiling with a view to making recommendations, will he give special attention to that part of the present report that encourages women during the process of confinement to have full facilities for smoking, which is now actively discouraged for maternity care?

Mr. Finsberg

It is time that the document was updated. I am glad that the hon. Lady was pleased with my progress report. I shall examine carefully what she has said because hon. Members recognise that there is a serious danger in smoking and none more so than when pregnant women smoke. Once the dangers have been pointed out—it is necessary to be careful about that—it is impossible to go further than saying as strongly as possible that it is a foolish and dangerous practice.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

In any revision, will the Minister comment on obstetrics services to prospective surrogate mothers? Will he ask representatives of obstetricians and midwives to use every power they have to oppose the development of surrogate motherhood? Will he further ensure that the Government introduce every possible legal obstructive mechanism to prevent the development of this practice within the United Kingdom?

Mr. Finsberg

I shall draw the attention of the Warnock committee to what the hon. Gentleman said. He will appreciate that the Government set up the committee to examine this and other associated questions. However, the point he has made is one that the committee should look at.