§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is consistent with the advice available to his Department that for a woman during pregnancy to consume more than two units of alcohol per day could put her child at risk; what, if any, recent work his Department has done in the foetal alcohol syndrome; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungI refer the right hon. Gentleman to my replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Alexander) on 12 February 1980—[Vol. 978, c.636]—and the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Dr. Thomas) on 13 May—[Vol. 4, c. 295]—and my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen on 22 May—[Vol. 5, c. 214.] Our advice on health grounds is that alcohol should be taken only in moderation during pregnancy, as at any other time. It would not be consistent with the evidence at present available to advise on specific limits on consumption during pregnancy.