§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what importance his Department places upon infant mortality rate and perinatal mortality rate as an indicator of the general health of a community.
§ Mr. John MacKaySince the general health of the population is only one of several factors which may have a bearing on perinatal and infant mortality rates, these rates should be used with caution as indicators of general health. This is especially true when rates are derived from relatively small populations where random variations may occur.