HC Deb 23 January 1987 vol 108 cc787-8W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to monitor the proportion of congenital malformations amongst babies born to women living in those parts of England and Wales which were

Mrs. Currie

[pursuant to her reply, 22 January 1987]: The information requested is given in the table. Between 1979 and 1985 the total number of in-patient cases rose by 17.7 per cent. from 5,400,120 to 6,353,812 and the number of in-patient cases treated per bed increased by 31 per cent. from 14.9 to 19.5.

subject to rises in radiation levels following the nuclear accident in Chernobyl; and what plans he has to publish the information.

Mrs. Currie

The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys already operates a scheme for monitoring congenital malformations at district health authority level for a large selection of different malformations in England and Wales. This is collected on a monthly basis and any significant increase in the incidence of malformations would be detected. Details of notified congenital malformations are summarised and published annually in an OPCS Monitor in the MB3 series.