§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they will take to ensure that women of child bearing age are aware of the Health Education Council's advice, that… "more and more doctors think it wise to avoid alcohol during pregnancy … Best of all, stay off alcohol altogether until your baby is born".
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Glenarthur)I would refer the noble Lord to my reply to him on 17th January. [Official Report, Vol. 446, cols. 921–3].
As I made clear then, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is aware of the advice which the noble Lord quotes from the Health Education Council leaflet, "That's The Limit —A Guide to Sensible Drinking". It is part of the HECs role to promote awareness of its advice.
The Council's new pregnancy book, launched on 22nd March, also contains advice on alcohol con-sumption during pregnancy. The book is designed both for pregnant women and for women planning to start a family, and it is being widely distributed free of charge.