Down's Syndrome (Hansard, 31 March 1993)

§ Mr. Richards
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many children have been born in(a)Clwyd and (b)Wales, with Down's syndrome in each year since 1983.

§ Mr. Gwilym Jones
The number of notifications of children born with Down's syndrome to residents of Clwyd and Wales in each year since 1983 are shown in the table:

Clwyd Wales

1983 4 20

1984 8 30

1985 10 26

1986 7 27

1987 7 23

1988 4 30

1989 6 22

1990 5 25

1991 5 22

Source:Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

§ Mr. Richards
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of Down's syndrome sufferers in permanent state care in Wales.

§ Mr. Gwilym Jones
The information requested is not held centrally.

§ Mr. Richards
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what screening measures are available to detect Down's syndrome in the early stages of foetal development; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Gwilym Jones
The screening measures available to pregnant women are determined by the local health authority. Authorities are guided by the targets of the "Protocol for Investment in Health Gain: Maternal and Early Child Health", which was issued in August 1991 by the Welsh Health Planning Forum, in particular that by 1995 all pregnant women at high risk should be identified and offered an opportunity for pre-natal testing.
A national Down's syndrome screening group is currently looking at ways of setting guidelines for a screening programme.
262W

§ Mr. Richards
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what funds the Welsh Office has made available in each year since 1983 to help with the care of Down's syndrome sufferers in Wales;
(2) what provision is made for Down's syndrome sufferers and their families in Wales.

§ Mr. Gwilym Jones
Under the mental handicap strategy earmarked special funds have been allocated, annually to counties to support the development of a comprehensive range of new services.
While Down's syndrome has been indentified as the cause of mental handicap in approximately 26.5 per cent. of those affected, funds are not indentified specifically for individuals with this condition.
The following table gives details of strategy allocations to date.

Welsh Office funds, for mental handicap strategy

£ million

1983–84 1.6

1984–85 3.6

1985–86 5.0

1986–87 7.0

1987–88 9.6

1988–89 13.4

1989–90 18.5

1990–91 26.1

1991–92 34.2

1992–93 41.5

	Clwyd	Wales
1983	4	20
1984	8	30
1985	10	26
1986	7	27
1987	7	23
1988	4	30
1989	6	22
1990	5	25
1991	5	22

Welsh Office funds, for mental handicap strategy
	£ million
1983–84	1.6
1984–85	3.6
1985–86	5.0
1986–87	7.0
1987–88	9.6
1988–89	13.4
1989–90	18.5
1990–91	26.1
1991–92	34.2
1992–93	41.5