§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the most recent available figures for perinatal mortality in(a) Bolton, (b) England and (c) the United Kingdom; and what trends there have been in each of those areas during the past five years. [16559]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightThis information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Peter Thurnham, dated 24 February 1997:
17WThe Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply to your recent question asking for the Perinatal Mortality Rate for the United Kingdom, England and Bolton for the last five years.The figures requested are shown in the table. On 1 October 1992 the legal definition of a stillbirth was altered from a baby born dead after 28 or more completed weeks gestation to one born dead after 24 or more completed weeks gestation. This had the effect of raising the perinatal mortality from 1993 onwards.
Perinatal mortality rates1 for the United Kingdom, England and Bolton, 1991–1995 Year United Kingdom England Bolton 1991 8.1 8.0 11.7 1992 7.7 7.6 14.9 1993 9.0 8.9 8.4 1994 8.9 8.8 12.9 1995 8.9 8.8 11.5 1 Stillbirths and deaths within the first week of life per 1,000 live and stillbirths. I hope this reply is helpful.