§ Mr. Peter GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost of making dietary supplements of 4 mg of folic acid per day available free of cost through fertility and ante-natal clinics to women anticipating a pregnancy and during the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy.
§ Mr. SackvilleA dietary supplement of 4 mg folic acid per day is recommended to prevent recurrence of neural tube defects in the offspring of women or men with spina bifida or with a history of a previous child with neural tube defect. It is not possible to estimate the cost of making these supplements available through clinics to women in this group. However, they are available on prescription, free of charge to exempt groups prior to pregnancy and to all women during pregnancy.