HC Deb 12 January 1987 vol 108 cc133-6W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all the changes that have been made

and breach spontaneous, (ii) instrumental (forceps, vacuum and breach extraction), (iii) by caesarean section and (iv) other and unspecified means.

Mrs. Currie

[pursuant to her reply, 9 December 1986, c. 126]: The information is given in the table. Data for 1985 are not yet available.

since 1979 in his Department in the presentation of statistical information; and what further changes are now planned.

Mr. Fowler

[pursuant to his reply, 10 December 1986, c. 215]: For past changes in the presentation of statistical information I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Gould) today.

All statistics and the form in which they are presented are kept under continuous review and further planned changes included those associated with the following: —the implementation of the recommendations of the steering group on health services information, for example the replacement of the hospital in-patients enquiry by a new source; —the on-going reviews of personal social service statistics collected from the local authorities; —other reviews; eg, the technical review of low income statistics; —legislative changes relating to benefits following the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986; —the publication of more material in Statistical Bulletins; —proposal for special volumes by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys giving a long-run of historial data for births, marriage and divorce, and mortality.