§ Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has conducted to establish whether the taking of preparations containing folic acid by pregnant women reduces the likelihood of the birth of babies with spina bifida; what steps she has taken to publicise this information; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleIn October 1991 an expert advisory group was set up in response to the publication of the final results from the Medical Research Council vitamin study group. Its report, "Folic Acid and the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects", published in December 1992, confirmed that women who increase their intake of folic acid before pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of having a baby with neural tube defects. A copy of the report is available in the Library.
This advice was disseminated to doctors, senior nurses, midwives, health visitors and pharmacists and the Health Education Authority updated its publications to include the new guidance. The Department of Health has conducted a campaign to publicise findings in the press and media. Posters and complementary leaflets have been widely distributed within the national health service and to professional and voluntary bodies.