HC Deb 13 November 1979 vol 973 cc591-2W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, of the total number of births in 1978, how many were below 2,500 grams, how many of these were stillbirths, perinatal births and post-neonatal deaths and how many births were by caesarian section; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

Of the 39,802 babies weighing 2,500 grams or less, born in England during 1978, 3,105 were stillbirths and 2,595 died within the first week of life. Information on post-neonatal deaths and caesarian sections is not available by birth weight.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many births in 1978 were 1,500 grams or below; how many of these babies were admitted to intensive care units; how many of them survived the neo-natal period; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

Of the 5,724 babies weighing 1,500 grams or less which were born in England during 1978, 4,138 were born alive and 2,335 survived the neo-natal period. Information on admissions to intensive care units is not centrally available.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of births were induced in 1978, by region and by area health authority; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

Figures are not available for area health authorities. For regional health authorities figures are not yet available for 1977 but it is anticipated that they will be ready in time for publication next year in an OPCS monitor.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of births had congential malformation, by region and area, in 1978.

Sir George Young

I am sending the available figures to the hon. Member and placing a copy in the Library. The figures are derived from a voluntary system of notifying congenital malformations observed at birth or up to seven days after birth. The data are therefore not complete and no estimate of the level of completeness is available.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will indicate, out of the number of births, how many were to working women and what were the perinatal infant mortality rates for these births.

Sir George Young

This information is not available.