§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence his Department has gathered about the causes of cot deaths; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FowlerThere is no evidence to support the view that smothering is the cause of the majority of cot deaths. I deplore any unsubstantiated allegations which might give rise to this impression. Studies point to a variety of factors that may be associated with such deaths, but suggest that there is no single cause. My Department has funded a study on post neonatal mortality, co-ordinated by the medical care research unit at Sheffield University. I expect to receive the report, which will be published, at the end of this month and we shall be considering its findings carefully to see what implications it has both for health service delivery and further research.