§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely, Official Report, 19 July, c. 58, what steps he is taking to improve the infant mortality rates of dependants of personnel serving with the British Army of the Rhine; and what representations he has received upon (a) the infant mortality rates and (b) his steps for improving the situation.
§ Mr. WigginAnalysis of the deaths among babies of dependants in BAOR shows that the rate of deaths in the first seven and 28 days is very similar to that obtaining in the United Kingdom. The rate of deaths after the first month and up to the end of the first year is higher in BAOR than the national average in the United Kingdom but not higher than some regional and social class mortality rates.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the per capita juvenile crime rate for areas dealt 391W with by each of the two standing civilian courts in West Germany of offences committed by dependants of personnel serving with the British Army of the Rhine; and what has been the annual rate of increase in the figures for each of the years since 1977.
§ Mr. WigginThe crime rate of dependants (aged between 10 and 16) of Army personnel serving in British Army of the Rhine and Berlin, based on convictions in the two standing civilian courts is:
Per 1,000 1978 3.5 1979 3.9 1980 3.8 1981 4.2 *1982 3.4 * Six months. The separate figures for convictions in British Army of the Rhine and Berlin are not immediately available.