§ Mr. Hubbard-Milesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made since the announcement in May 1983 of his initiative to improve the quality of care for newly born children and their mothers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe perinatal mortality initiative survey group has published a newsletter reporting the progress that it and the catalyst team have made in their first year and setting out their plans for the remainder of the initiative. A copy of the newsletter has been placed in he Library and it is being given a very wide distribution among those concerned with providing maternity and neonatal care. Copies have been sent to hon. Members representing Welsh constituencies.
I am grateful for the survey group's agreement to issue this newsletter. I hope it will be widely read and provide all those professionally concerned with the care of mothers and the new born with a useful summary of the survey group and catalyst team's activities during their first year. I applaud their efforts and look forward to seeing their final report next year.
I was pleased to see that figures which have just become available show a reduction in the perinatal mortality rate in Wales from 11.3 to 10.5 deaths per thousand births., between 1983 and 1984. This is welcome news and I hope this reduction will continue.