§ Mrs. Renée shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what change there has been in the perinatal mortality rate in the west midlands in social classes III. IV and V since 1981; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 30 November, c. 624]: The available information is given in the table, but it should be noted that analyses of perinatal mortality by social class within a region are based on a small number of events in the overall sample and can therefore produce large random variations in the figures over one or two years. The total rate of perinatal mortality in the region over a longer period (1979–1983) fell by 27 per cent, only a little less than the figure of 29 per cent. for England as a whole. The regional health authority, in its outline strategic plan, has given a high priority to the further reduction of perinatal mortality locally.
West Midlands. Perinatal Mortality: Rate per 1000 Total Births. *Social Class (Legitimate Births Only) III IV V 1981 13.3 13.9 13.1 †1983 11.2 15.0 19.4 Change -2.1 +1.1 +6.3 * Live births by social class are estimated from a national 10 per cent, sample. † Provisional.