§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is (i) the procurement route for the tendering exercise for the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy and what were the dates on which(a) the tender was announced, (b) information was made available, (c) expressions of interest had to be received, (d) organisations to be invited to tender were selected and informed and (e) tenders had to be submitted; and (ii) if all the procedures complied with the regulations set out by the European Union. [5278]
§ Mr. HoramThe tender exercise was announced inThe Lancet and the Health Service Journal between 26 and 28 October 1995. The deadline for expressions of interest was 10 November. Every respondent to the advertisements was sent a statement of requirements on 13 November and was invited to attend a briefing meeting on 21 November. A full invitation to tender was issued to those who attended the briefing meeting.
A sift of responses to preliminary questions in the statement of requirements took place on Friday 24 November and organisations were informed in writing and by telephone on that day. Those remaining in the exercise have been asked to submit completed tenders by Friday 15 December.
I can confirm that the procedures comply with the regulations set out by the European Union.
527W
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was(a) the stillbirth rate, excluding foetal deaths at 24 to 27 weeks of gestation registered since 1 October 1992, (b) the neonatal mortality rate and (c) the post-neonatal mortality rate in England and Wales in each of the last 20 years; and what was the change in each rate in each of the periods (i) 1975 to 1980, (ii) 1980 to 1985 and (iii) 1985 to 1990 and in each single year since 1990. [5274]
§ Mr. HoramThe information is shown in the tables.
Stillbirth, neonatal and post-neonatal mortality rates1 England and Wales 1975–94 Stillbirths2 Neonatal Postneonatal 1975 10.3 10.7 5.0 1976 9.7 9.7 4.6 1977 9.4 9.3 4.5 1978 8.5 8.7 4.5 1979 8.0 8.2 4.6 1980 7.2 7.7 4.4 1981 6.6 6.7 4.4 1982 6.3 6.3 4.6 1983 5.7 5.9 4.3 1984 5.7 5.6 3.9 1985 5.5 5.1 4.0 1986 5.3 5.3 4.3 1987 5.0 5.1 4.1 1988 4.9 4.9 4.1 1989 4.7 4.8 3.7 1990 4.6 4.6 3.3 1991 4.6 4.4 3.0 1992 4.3 4.3 2.3 1993 4.4 4.2 2.1 1994 4.4 4.1 2.1 1Stillbirths per 1,000 live and still births.Neonatal and postneonatal mortality per 1,000 live births. 2Stillbirths of 28 weeks gestation or more.
Percentage changes in stillbirth, neonatal and post-neonatal rates, England and Wales 1975–1994 Stillbirths1 Neonatal Post-neonatal 1975 to 1979 –22.8 –23.2 8.4 1980 to 1984 –21.2 –27.6 12.0 1985 to 1989 –15.2 –11.6 13.2 1990 to 1994 –4.6 –9.7 38.2 1990 to 1991 0.9 –4.3 9.2 1991 to 1992 –8.2 –1.8 23.7 1992 to 1993 2.7 –3.1 6.5 1993 to 1994 0.3 –0.8 4.6 1Stillbirths of 28 weeks gestation or more.
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what were his Department's objectives in establishing the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy; what mechanisms were established to ensure that the objectives were achieved; what evaluations have been done of the inquiry; and if he will place in the Library such reports of evaluations which have been undertaken. [5276]
§ Mr. HoramThe confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy was established to:
investigate the circumstances of stillbirths, neonatal and post-neonatal deaths;identify avoidable factors and seek their remedy:and to improve understanding and clinical practice.528WNo evaluations have yet been completed. It is too soon to demonstrate any direct effect on infant and perinatal mortality.
The reports of the inquiry are a tool for improving understanding and copies have been placed in the Library.
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the full costs to his Department and to the inquiry of the tendering process for the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy. [5279]
§ Mr. HoramThe tender process for the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy is still in progress. A record of identifiable costs is therefore not yet available.
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff have been employed on work for the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy in each year(a) centrally, (b) in the NHS regions and districts and (c) elsewhere. [5277]
§ Mr. HoramThe central secretariat of the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy had four members of staff in the period 1992 to 1994 and five members of staff from the end of 1994 to present. Regional/district figures are not available for the years 1992 to 1994. In the current year there are approximately 30 people engaged in the inquiry's work at regional level. There is a large number of other people in the NHS who contribute to the inquiry, but no figures are available. There are no data on the number of people employed on the various special projects.
§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department established the confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy; and how much money was(a) allocated to and (b) spent on the inquiry in each year since it was established, showing separately the sums (i) for central organisation and analysis, (ii) allocated to NHS regions and districts, by region and (iii) allocated for other purposes. [5275]
§ Mr. HoramI shall let the hon. Member have such financial information as is available as soon as possible.