§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, during his Department's restructuring of the National Health Service, he will ensure that minimum standards for obstetric and neonatal care are established in every regional health authority thereby providing a national health service for all pregnant women.
§ Dr. VaughanWe wish to ensure that all mothers and their children receive the highest standards of care available, as do the professions involved. However, if minimum standards were laid down by the central Department or by the regional authority it would be essential to ensure that they were not interpreted as optimum standards, thus frustrating future development. I am aware that the Select Committee on Social Services has considered this in detail, and I will give it urgent attention when its report is received.