Maternity Services Advisory Committee

HC Deb 26 July 1983 vol 46 c1039

10. Mr. Yeo

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the maternity services advisory committee to publish its next report.

Mr. John Patten

I understand that the committee hopes that its next report, on care during childbirth, will be ready for publication later this year.

Mr. Yeo

While we await the publication of the next report, will my hon. Friend tell the House what response his Department has received to the last report of the maternity services advisory committee and what steps his Department is taking to monitor the implementation of that report's recommendations by individual health authorities, particularly in the light of the successful Sighthill scheme for ante-natal care in Edinburgh?

Mr. Patten

About 11,000 copies of this excellent report have been distributed to health authorities, professionals and others in the field. The Department is monitoring carefully the activities of the authorities and the way in which they respond to the checklist of recomendations set out in the report. I know that my hon. Friend joins me in rejoicing in the fact that perinatal mortality has fallen by more than a quarter in this country in the past five years.