§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the inner cities programme with particular reference to the identification and eradication of the factors which causes perinatal and infant mortality and handicap.
§ Mr. ShoreThe seven partnerships have now agreed programmes for 1979.82 containing a range of measures aimed to improve economic environmental and social conditions in the inner city areas which suffer most from multiple deprivation. As my hon. Friend knows, the factors influencing perinatal and infant mortality are numerous and complex and it will be a considerable time before it is possible to identify progress in this field.