§ Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that in 1957 the number of still-births in England and Wales was 22 per 1,000 births, while comparable figures for Sweden were 17 per 1,000, for Holland 17 per 1,000, and for the United States of America 13 per 1,000; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the figure for England and Wales to the level of that of other advanced countries.
§ Miss PittYes, but in the last two years there has been an encouraging drop in the still-birth rate in England and Wales from 22.5 per 1,000 births in 1957 to 21.6 in 1958 and 20.7 in 1959. This reflects both improvements in general health and great efforts by all concerned to secure a high standard of maternal and infant care but the figure is still too high and my right hon. and learned Friend will do everything he can to encourage further improvement.