§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends to issue guidelines to parents on the use of cot mattresses as part of his Department's strategy to reduce the number of cot deaths; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyToday the Department's chief medical officer, Sir Donald Acheson, announced that he had asked a group of independent experts to investigate a claim that the emission of toxic gases from fungal growth on some soiled cot mattresses is a cause of sudden infant death. Pending the outcome of the investigation, he gave the following advice to parents: keep babies warm but avoid overheating; ensure good ventilation; follow good hygiene by keeping all clothing and bedding fresh and clean; be alert to signs that the infant may be unwell.