§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up an investigation into the effects of the increased number of caesarian section births upon the most recent annual changes in the perinatal mortality rates.
§ Mr. John PattenOver the past five years, while the perinatal mortality rate has fallen significantly, there has been a gradual rise in the number of caesarian sections as a percentage of all deliveries. We will continue to monitor trends in both rates. The decision to perform a caesarian section in a particular case is, of course, a matter of clinical judgment.