§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish figures for 1989–90 showing the estimated percentage of women delivering in England whose deliveries were(a) spontaneous, including abnormal presentation of head and breech spontaneous, (b) instrumental, including forceps, vacuum and breech extractions, (c) caesarean section and (d) other and unspecified means;
(2) if he will publish figures for 1989–90 showing the estimated percentage of women delivering in England (a) whose labours were induced, (b) whose labours were of spontaneous onset and (c) who had elective caesarean section.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 7 May 1991]: Provisional estimates of the percentages requested for England are given in the following tables.
Method of delivery Per cent. Spontaneous 78 Instrumental 10 Caesarean section 12 Other and unspecified 1— 1 Less than 0.5 per cent.
Method of onset of labour Per cent. Induced 18 Spontaneous onset 74 Elective caesarean 5 Not known 3 Source: SMI2: Maternity hospital episode statistics.