§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information has been collected nationally regarding malnutrition and the incidence of rickets.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department of Health does not collect information specifically about the incidence of rickets. Malnutrition is a term which covers a wide variety of single or combined deficiencies of nutrients and/or energy. A report of the national diet and nutrition survey of children aged one and a half to four and a half, due to be published in the spring, will provide information on the food and nutrient intakes of this group of the population and their vitamin D status.
767W