§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research is being done by his Department into the attitudes of parents charged with baby battering and cruelty to their children, and into the circumstances of their children's birth ; how many of these mothers applied for but were refused a termination of pregnancy ; and how many had been offered information about contraception.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe Home Office does not carry out research on the socio-medical lines suggested. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, and I understand that his Department is considering a number of research projects relating to the problem of non-accidental injury to children. The issues raised are relevant to the wider problem of transmitted deprivation, on which my right hon. Friend has asked the Social Science Research Council to prepare a wide-ranging programme of research.