§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has on how many men and women have received medical help for infertility in the last year for which figures are available;
(2) if he will indicate which district health authorities provide (a) ovarian scanning, (b) radio-immune assay service, (c) artificial insemination, (d) IVF and (e) GIFT.
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§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThis information is not held centrally. The provision of infertility services is a matter for individual health authorities to decide in the light of local needs and priorities.
§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district health authorities no longer provide sterilisation operations on social grounds; and if he will name these authorities.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyInformation about the provision of sterilisation operations is not routinely collected. Regional and district general managers were recently reminded of existing guidance which makes it clear that male and female sterilisation operations should be available under the NHS on both family planning and medical grounds.