§ 115. Mr. Abseasked the Minister of Health whether the statement concerning infantile mortality rates in Wales, communicated to the Press by an official of the Welsh Board of Health on 20th July, 1960, was made with his authority; whether he is aware of the inaccuracies contained in it; and if he will make a further statement.
§ Miss PittNo statement was issued to the Press. One newspaper invited Departmental comment on certain matters discussed in the Welsh debate and this was, very properly, refused. Information was then sought on questions of fact and, in accordance with normal Departmental practice, this was given. On infant mortality rates, the figures supplied were those published in the Registrar General's Statistical Reviews166W for England and Wales for the years 1948 to 1958. Final figures for 1959 have not yet been published. The infant mortality rate per thousand live births for Wales was 39 in 1948 and 27 in 1958. The comparable figures for the administrative county of Monmouth were 43 and 26.