HC Deb 01 December 1983 vol 49 cc614-5W
Mr. Iain Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what means information is presently made available to parents on the considerations they should bear in mind before they decide to have their babies immunised against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

Information for parents on the benefits and possible side effects of immunisation against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis is set out in the leaflet "Immunisation: just a few moments' discomfort for years of protection", produced by the Health Education Council. The leaflet is issued to new parents by health visitors and is also available from child health clinics.

From today, I am introducing an additional means of distributing these leaflets. They will be sent with the child benefit claim package issued from local social security offices throughout Great Britain, about four weeks before a baby's birth, to prospective mothers who have claimed maternity benefits. The new system will operate for 12 months, pending changes in the arrangements for issuing the child benefit claim package.

Issue of the leaflets before the baby is born will mean there can be better informed discussions from an early stage between parents and their health visitors and doctors—who carry the professional responsibility to ensure that

PSS expenditure* (£ million) Increase over previous year PSS expenditure as percentage of GDP †
Cash Cost terms Cash per cent Cost terms per cent Cash per cent
1970–71 180 782 — — 0.34
1971–72 221 879 22.9 12.4 0.38
1972–73 280 1,039 26.5 18.1 0.42
1973–74 358 1,204 28.0 15.9 0.48
1974–75 529 1,510 47.8 25.4 0.60
1975–76 718 1,645 35.7 8.9 0.65
1976–77 839 1,667 16.9 1.4 0.65
1977–78 939 1,636 11.8 -1.8 0.63
1978–79 1,062 1,707 13.1 4.3 0.62
1979–80 1,305 1,812 22.9 6.2 0.64
1980–81 1,616 1,930 23.8 6.5 0.69
1981–82 1,792 1,920 10.9 -0.5 0.70
1982–83‡ 1,982 1,982 10.6 3.3 0.70

Notes:"Cost terms" figures are relative to the RPI.

* Net current spending by local authorities in England. Before 1972–73 the figures are for health and welfare services.

† Gross Domestic Product at market prices for UK (England figures not available for financial years).

‡ Estimated.