§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has studied the report "Europe's Babies", published by the children's research fund's European collaborative committee for child health, a copy of which has been sent to the Minister with special responsibility for the disabled; if there is any action he will be considering with regard to its findings; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have seen this report which suggests ways in which data collected on perinatal mortality might be improved. Similar recommendations which we referred to the steering group on health services information were made by the Social Services Committee in its 1980 report on perinatal and neonatal morbidity. The steering group has since put forward proposals for a maternity information system, currently being piloted, which go a long way to meeting the gaps in information that both reports identify.