§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to commission a randomised controlled trial on the benefits or cervical cerclage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanBecause of the close correlation between pre-term delivery and perinatal mortality and morbidity, the Department attaches considerable importance to research on methods to prevent premature births. The Medical Research Council has accordingly been asked to examine ways of mounting a clinical trial of the effectiveness of one such possible method—cervical cerclage—and the council has set up an expert Working Party to look into this.
I understand that the working party's proposals for a randomised controlled trial are shortly to be considered by the council.