§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes in reponse to the report entitled "A Multi-Centre Study of Postneonatal Mortality", by the Medical Care Research Unit at the University of Sheffield, which claims that in 131 recent cases of postneonatal mortality where a general practitioner had been in contact with the dead infant, the case conference found that the general practitioner had acted inappropriately in 64 per cent. of cases; if he will now update his response to those sections of the recent reports of the Social Services Committee, Second Report, Session 1979–80 and Third Report, Session 1983–84, relating to the quality of training provided for general practitioners wishing to practise obstetrics; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenWe have invited experts to a conference on 15 March at which the conclusions and recommendations of the multi-centre study will be discussed. We hope to have their news on positive steps that can be taken to reduce postneonatal mortality rates and to improve the quality of infant care, where necessary. Discussions about the training and other criteria for admission of general practitioners to the obstetric list are continuing at official level with the professional bodies concerned. There is nothing further to add to the response given to the relevant recommendations in the Social Services Committee's two reports.