§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the net cost of an adequate diet in pregnancy based on teaching hospital recommendations for a single woman or girl.
§ Dr. VaughanResearch done for the National Council for One Parent Families showed that the cost of an adequate diet in pregnancy, as recommended by a London teaching hospital, would be £10.26 a week at April 1978 prices. However, the costing was of an adequate diet in pregnancy for an average girl who is not supplementing her diet with extra vitamins; and did not make allowance for the availability of free milk, vitamins and iron tablets under the welfare food scheme, nor for other medicines and food supplements prescribable by a doctor382W under the National Health Service. I am advised that a wide range of diets could provide the basic essentials in pregnancy, particularly where the common dietary supplements are taken.