§ 17. Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate a study into the possible link between spina bifida and children born in long-established coalfields.
§ Sir George YoungWhile I am not aware of any evidence for a particular association with long-established coalfields, the variation in the incidence of spina bifida in different parts of the country is well documented and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, with which the Department works closely, will continue to investigate factors which could be relevant.