§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to the reply given by the Under-Secretary on 13 May, if, in the light of his requesting a priority investigation into the relationship between alcohol consumption in early pregnancy and foetal malformations, he will publish the evidence which has resulted in this action; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanThe Medical Research Council was asked to consider funding research into the relationship between drinking in pregnancy and foetal harm following a review of the literature on the foetal alcohol syndrome carried out for the Chief Medical Officer in 1977; and in the light of reported findings from studies carried out abroad. The findings of the literature review were published in the November 1977 issue ofHealth TrendsI am arranging for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member.
We are waiting for the results of research being carried out at the Royal postgraduate medical school, London, with the support of the Medical Research Council, into the effects of ethyl alcohol on cell acquisition, migration and differentiation in the developing brain. The health departments place a high priority on research into the relationship between drinking in pregnancy and foetal harm. We are in touch with the council on the possibility of further research into this area.