§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will study the seven point policy for the prevention of handicaps of perinatal origin implemented by the French Health Ministry; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will arrange for a study to be made of the French Treasury document "Priority of Priorities" introduced by the French Ministry of Finance on perinatal care.
§ Dr. VaughanThe seven programmes for prevention introduced in France following the Lamy report, which was published more than 10 years ago, were com- 545W prehensively documented in "Prevention of Handicap of Perinatal Origin" by Margaret and Arthur Wynn (1976) and were studied by a team of officials from the Department during a visit to France the following year.
In addition, evidence about the French programmes was given to the Select Committee on Social Services in 1979 by Professors Minkowski and Papiernik. As the hon. Member knows, the Government are now preparing a response to the Committee's recent report on perinatal and neonatal mortality.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of perinatal mortality or handicap is attributable to maternal infection either before or during pregnancy; what are the economic consequences of such mortality and handicap; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanIn 1978, the latest year for which figures are available, 26 perinatal deaths in England and Wales were attributed to maternal ante or post-parturm infection, 0'3 per cent. of the total; where such small numbers are involved, any calculation of the economic consequences would be of doubtful value. Figures for perinatal handicap are not available.