HC Deb 11 January 1977 vol 923 cc451-3W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his practice to publish each year the perinatal and infant mortality rates in each area health authority and an analysis of the data, indicating the reasons for any increase and decrease over the previous years.

Mr. Moyle

The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) publishes the perinatal and infant mortality rates for health authority areas in England annually; the latest available figures are in "Local Authority Vital Statistics, 1974 Series VS1", available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Figures for 1975 will be published this spring. Analysis of the data, indicating the reasons for any increase or decrease over previous years, is not published but the figures are kept under review by health authorities and in my Department.

48. Mrs. Hayman

asked the Secretary of Sate for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the infant mortality rates in the United Kingdom in the light of the Court Committee's report.

Mr. Moyle

No. There has, however, been a steady reduction in infant mortality, but this has not been as rapid as in some other European countries or as we would wish, and there are wide variations between rates within England.

I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to my right hon. Friend's statement on the publication of the report of the Court Committee on child health services on 16th December 1976—[Vol. 922, c. 819–20]—and our consultative document "Priorities for Health and Social Services in England". The latter suggests that services for children were among those needing priority, and emphasised particularly improvements in special care for vulnerable newborn babies; and expansion of health visitor services for preschool children. Last August my Department asked health authorities to review their facilities for the care of the newborn.

More research is needed to identify risk factors which may contribute to relatively high infant and perinatal mortality rates, and a working party of my Department's Children's Research Liaison Group is considering research priorities in this field.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the measures which have reduced the perinatal mortality figures in Aberdeen from a high figure to the lowest in Great Britain are being applied in all parts of England; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moyle

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland gave him today on this matter.

The latest published figures do not indicate Aberdeen as having the lowest rate in Great Britain; figures for health authority areas in England were contained in my reply to my hon. Friend on 15th November.—[Vol. 919, c. 410–16.]

Policies similar to those adopted in Aberdeen are current good practice in England.