HC Deb 25 November 1985 vol 87 c399W
Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he has received the report of the Medical Research Council on the efficacy of multivitamin treatments in the prevention of spina bifida;

(2) whether he now has sufficient evidence to determine if the addition of multivitamin supplements in early pregnancy can affect the development of spina bifida in children.

Mr. Walden

No. The relevant trial, which the Medical Research Council is conducting, started in the summer of 1983. I understand that the council expects that up to five years may be needed, from the time the trial started, before results are obtained.