§ Mr. MandelsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information is currently available about the environmental pollution or other causes which might provide an explanation of the incidence of babies being born with deformed or missing hands;
(2) what resources she has made available to local health authorities or to the Medical Research Council, or both, in their examination of babies born with deformed or missing hands;
(3) if she will order a full Government investigation into the incidence of babies being born with deformed or missing hands in coastal areas; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleLimb deformities which have occurred in babies born in coastal areas have been the subject of preliminary local investigation. Local inquiries of this kind form part of the public health functions of the health authorities concerned, which are funded as a matter of course. There is no evidence to suggest that the incidence of limb defects in these places is any higher than might occur by chance. Nor is there any information to suggest that environmental pollution might be the cause. Clinicians in Hampshire have been in touch informally with officers of the Medical Research Council's epidemiology unit at Southampton. Any further developments will be monitored closely.
§ Mr. BoyesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will institute an investigation into the problem of children being born with one hand only; if she will institute 421W an investigation into the problems of children with any other generalised deformities of the body; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleA national system for monitoring and detecting any increase in the prevalence of congenital malformations co-ordinated by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys has been in place for the last 30 years. We are aware of particular local investigations which are taking place into the reasons for limb deformities. It would be inappropriate to speculate further until these have been completed.