HC Deb 04 February 1980 vol 978 cc77-8W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, from information concerning foetuses available to him, how many neonates have survived at less than 24 weeks' gestation, at 24 weeks' gestation and at 25 weeks' gestation; and how many of these are still alive.

Sir George Young

This information is not collected centrally; but I am advised that there is no authenticated case in this country of survival of an infant of less than 24 weeks' gestation; and I know of one infant of 24 weeks' gestation and one of either 24 or 25 weeks' gestation who are still alive; another infant thought to be between 24 and 25 weeks' gestation survived for a period of six weeks. I am also advised that other in- fants of 24 and 25 weeks have survived for periods of less than four weeks.