§ 47. Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services to which 472W health authorities he has written concerning their high perinatal or infant mortality rates in 1977; what response he has received to date; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleI would refer my hon. Friend to my statement in reply to his Question on 20th June, in which I referred to the action being taken by my Department in the context of this year's planning guidlines to health authorities and of the preparation of regional strategic plans which are due to be submitted in January 1979 and in which regional health authorities have already been asked to include detailed proposals for the improvement of perinatal and infant mortality in areas with persistently poor figures.—[Vol. 952, c.167.] Health authorities will already have this task in hand and I will write to my hon. Friend when I have decided what form any additional approach to them should take.