HC Deb 20 May 1931 vol 252 cc1989-90W
Miss LEE

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) the counties in Scotland where there are the highest and lowest infantile mortality rates, and the deaths per 1,000 in these two counties;

(2) the average infantile mortality rate for Scottish counties and the corresponding rate for English counties;

Mr. WESTWOOD

The average infantile mortality rate for the whole of Scotland, excluding burghal areas, in 1930 was 69 per 1,000 births. The mean of the rates for the individual counties (again excluding burghs) was 61 per 1,000. The highest rate was 89 per 1,000 in Dunbartonshire, and the lowest was 23 per 1,000 in Bute. If my hon. Friend intended to include burghal areas, the answer to the first question would be that the highest rate was 100 per 1,000 in Wigtownshire and the lowest 25 per 1,000 in Bute; but I should have to make further inquiry as to average rates. For comparable English figures I must refer my hon. Friend to the Minister of Health.