§ Mr. WHITEasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Royal Commission to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the causes of maternity mortality and make recommendations, in regard thereto?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir; I am not at present satisfied that an inquiry into the subject by a Royal Commission would be of advantage. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Blackburn (Captain Elliston) on 28th March, of which I am sending him a copy. The hon. Member will see that special inquiries are in progress in those areas where the incidence of maternal mortality is, or has been, most marked, and that when those inquiries are completed my right hon. Friend proposes to lay a White Paper on the subject before the House.