§ Mrs. Renee Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many cases of foetuses surviving under 24 weeks have been brought to the attention of his Department since October 1979; how many were investigated; and how many were found to be true;
(2) if he will cause an investigation into cases in Burnley of the survival of infants, names of whom have been supplied to him, after gestation periods of 22 and 23 weeks.
§ Dr. VaughanSince October 1979, I have received information about three
PERINATAL MORTALITY RATES: SOCIAL CLASS (LEGITIMATE SINGLE BIRTHS ONLY) 1950, 1973AND 1977 ENGLAND AND WALES Percentage decrease Social class 1950 1973 1977 1950–73 1950–77 1973–77 I. Professional … … 25.4 13.9 10.9 45 57 22 II. Managerial … … 30.4 15.6 12.3 49 60 21 III. Skilled … … 33.6 19.2 15.4 43 54 20 Non-Manual … 17.3 13.1 24 Manual … … 19.7 16.0 19 IV. Semi-Skilled … … 36.9 21.8 17.6 41 52 19 V. Unskilled … … 40.4 26.8 20.6 34 49 23 All Social Classes* … 34.9† 18.9 15.2 46 56 20 * Includes armed forces, students etc. † Estimated.