§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sets of(a) twins, (b) triplets, (c) quadruplets, (d) quintuplets and ( e) sextuplets were born in Northern Ireland in each year from 1990 to 1994; what was the total number of maternities in Northern Ireland in each year; and how many multiple births of each type in each year were conceived as a result of (1) in-vitro fertilisation, (ii) gamete intra-fallopian transfer and (iii) other forms of assisted conception; and if he will make a statement. [29530]
§ Mr. MossThe information requested is set out in the table:
Type 1990 1991 1992 1993 11994 Sets of (a) twins 267 315 258 280 302 (b) triplets 5 6 8 9 6 (c) quadruplets — — — — — (d) quintuplets — 1 — — — (e) sextuplets — — — — — Maternities 26,338 26,058 25,425 24,741 23,821 (i) IVF2 (i) twins 12 11 n/k n/k n/k (ii) triplets 2 11 n/k n/k n/k (ii) GIFT3 1 Provisional. 2 These figures are the result of IVF by year of conception. 3 GIFT was available in Northern Ireland only in 1986 and 1987.