§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an expert view of antenatal care in 742W Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleContinuous improvements and developments in antenatal care are taking place, and I do not consider that the appointment of an expert group would be opportune. Research into various aspects of antenatal care is under way, and the recommendations of the Working Party on Infant and Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity, to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend on 25th July, included suggestions for further research in this field. Antenatal care is fully covered in the United Kingdom Health Departments' recent discussion paper, "Prevention and Health: Reducing the Risk," copies of which have been placed in the Library and which deals with the whole subject of safer pregnancy and childbirth. We shall be carefully considering any comments which we receive on the paper.—[Vol. 936, c.51–2.]