§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement as to the availability of the provision of special facilities to improve the ante-natal care being provided and taken up by ethnic minorities.
§ Dr. VaughanIt is very important that services for ante-natal care are improved, and that all women—including those in ethnic minorities—are encouraged to make use of them early and regularly during their pregnancy. The needs of particular ethnic minorities are however not the same everywhere, and it is for health authorities to decide what measures are needed locally. They were reminded of this in the Department's planning guidelines for 1978–79.