§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the health authorities which have established a routine confidential inquiry into every perinatal death; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleI regret that the information requested is not available centrally. The Working Party on the Prevention of Early Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity, whose report was sent to health authorities under Health Circular HC(76)40, recommended, inter alia, that local studies should be instituted into each perinatal death. I understand that a number of health authorities are planning confidential inquiries into perinatal deaths and I shall follow these developments closely. I refer my hon. Friend also to my reply to him on 11th November—[Vol. 938, c.290.]