§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of pregnant women over the age of (a) 40, (b) 35, (c) 30, (d) 25 and (e) 16–25 in the West Midlands had an antenatal test to help discover possible abnormalities at the latest convenient date; and if these percentages compare with the figures for the United Kingdom as a whole.
§ Dr. VaughanIn 1978, the latest year for which complete information is available, the percentage of pregnant women in the West Midlands region receiving amniocentesis to detect chromosomal abnormalities or neural tube defects in the foetus was
Over 40 9.3 35–39 2.9 30–34 1.3 25–29 1.1 20–24 0.9 Under 20 0.07 In the lower age-groups, only women who have previously given birth to a handicapped child, or couples whose families have a history of similarly handicapped children, would normally be offered this test.
The projected figures for women over 40 are 16 per cent. in 1979, and 20 per 463W cent. in 1980. Comparisons with national figures are not possible as these are not centrally available.