§ .55 p.m.
§ Lord Ashley of Stoke asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What steps they are taking to encourage the use of folic acid in order to reduce the incidence of spina bifida and babies with neural tube defects.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMy Lords, the Government are actively encouraging all women of child-bearing age to increase the amount of folic acid they consume through a three-year health promotion campaign, costing £2.3 million, which is being run on our behalf by the Health Education Authority. Since the campaign began, surveys show that 84 per cent. of the women questioned are now aware of folic acid and its importance compared with 51 per cent. at the beginning 997 of the campaign. The Department of Health has also set up an expert committee which is considering all aspects of this question and is expected to report early next year.
§ Lord Ashley of StokeMy Lords, I am sure the whole House will appreciate those efforts. But is my noble friend aware that the minority are precisely the people who would be at risk—those not involved? Does my noble friend agree that it is a pity not to proceed with legislation as the benefits are so great and the consequences of delay are so terrible, with many children being born with avoidable spina bifida? Should we not follow the example of the United States, where they have legislated on this issue?
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMy Lords, every baby born with a neural tube defect, of which spina bifida is probably the most common, is a great tragedy. However, it is worth noting that the numbers born have fallen from four per thousand births 25 years ago to 0.3 per thousand now. I am aware that the American Food and Drug Administration is implementing statutory control of folic acid. But, as my noble friend may be aware, the amount of folic acid that it is statutorily instructing food manufacturers to put into food is considerably less than the 400 micrograms which are recommended as an extra food supplement by doctors in this country.
§ Lord StewartbyMy Lords, does the noble Baroness accept that folic acid is extremely beneficial for many other conditions and that it would be wise to encourage consumption even though it may mean eating more broccoli and other rather unattractive foodstuffs?
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonMy Lords, I understand that it is not simply broccoli, because in order to reach the 400 micrograms recommended as an additional food supplement one would have to eat 27 bananas every day. The noble Lord is right. There is mounting evidence that folic acid plays a role in heart disease. Several trials to investigate this issue are going on worldwide, including one that is being co-ordinated by Oxford University. We shall wait to see what the evidence produces on that before making further recommendations.