§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what recent representations he has received from the Spastics Society; what replies he is sending; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement;
(2) If his signature on the Spastics Society's "Save a Baby" campaign petition can be taken to indicate full acceptance of the campaign's objectives; and if he will be fully and urgently implementing the recommendations of the report of the Select Committee on Social Services on perinatal and neonatal mortality.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinThe Spastics Society has made known its views on the Social Services Select Committee's report on perinatal and neonatal mortality in two letters and at a recent meeting; it is aware that the report is at present being
DURATION OF TERMINATING SPELLS OF INCAPACITY BY SEX MEAN DURATION DAYS OF INCAPACITY (EXCLUDING SUNDAYS) TABLE 1 1977/78 1978/79 Type of Spell Males Females All persons Males Females All persons Sickness benefit spells only 16 13 15 16 14 15 Invalidity benefit spells only 55 69 57 65 69 65 Combined sickness/Invalidity spells 596 563 59 591 639 601 Sickness benefit spells plus the SB portion of combined spells 21 17 20 20 17 19 Invalidity benefit spells plus the IVB portion of combined spells 178 163 176 178 213 184 All SB and IVB spells 31 21 28 31 23 29
DURATION OF TERMINATING SPELLS OF INCAPACITY BY SEX MEAN DURATION DAYS OF INCAPACITY (EXCLUDING SUNDAYS) TABLE 2 1977/78 1978/79 Type of Spell Males Females All persons Males Females All persons Sickness benefit spells only 9 8 9 9 8 9 Invalidity benefit spells only 13 18 11 12 21 13 Combined sickness/Invalidity spells 242 200 234 237 216 232 Sickness benefit spells plus the SB portion of combined spells 10 8 9 9 8 9 Invalidity benefit spells plus the IVB portion of combined spells 23 33 24 20 40 23 All SB and IVB spells 10 8 9 9 8 9