HC Deb 01 March 1993 vol 220 cc29-30W
Mr. Connarty

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies were born by Caesarean section in hospitals in(a) England and (b) the United Kingdom during each year since 1970; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sackville

The estimated figures for England and Wales for the years 1973 to 1981 and for England for the years 1982 to 1985 and 1988–89 to 1990–91 are shown in the table. These figures related to deliveries and not to the number of babies born.

There are no data available for the years 1986 to 1987–88, and the data prior to 1973 cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Year Estimated number of deliveries Estimated number by Caesarian section Percentage by Caesarean section
19731 623,600 32,760 5.3
19741 602,360 34,030 5.6
19751 574,040 34,620 6.0
19761 560,710 36,720 6.5
19771 529,720 39,130 7.4
19781 553,290 41,620 7.5
19791 588,920 49,830 8.4
19801 604,100 54,600 9.0
I9811 574,670 53,420 9.3
19821 574,620 58,110 10.1
I9831 578,300 58,370 10.1
19841 586,110 59,140 10.1
19851 605,120 63,270 10.5
1988–892 642,000 64,000 10.0
1989–902 643,000 77,000 12.0
1990–912 660,000 86,000 130
Source:
1 Hospital In-Patient Enquiry.
2 Hospital Episode Statistics (These are broad estimates based on incomplete data, and are rounded to the nearest 1,000).

1992. Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of deaths per thousand live births in each regional and district health authority area in(a) 1982, (b) 1987 and (c)

Mr. Sackville

The infant mortality rate—deaths under one year per 1,000 live-births—for each regional and district health authority for 1982 and 1987 are listed in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys publications "Local authority vital statistics 1982" and "Key population and Vital Statistics 1987" series VS Nos. 9 and 14 respectively; copies of which are available in the Library. The information requested for 1992 is not yet available.