§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those EU countries with lower perinatal mortality rates than the United Kingdom. [12035]
§ Mrs. Angela KnightI have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Chris Smith, dated 10 February 1997:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the European Union (EU) countries which have a lower perinatal mortality rate than the United Kingdom.The figures are shown in the attached tables. On 1 October 1992 the legal definition of a stillbirth was altered from a baby born dead after 28 or more completed weeks gestation to one born dead after 24 or more completed weeks gestation. This had the effect of raising the United Kingdom perinatal mortality rate in 1993.Within the EU, differences of definition lead to variations in the measurement of perinatal mortality. It includes stillbirths with a minimum gestation period ranging from 22 to 28 weeks according to country.
Perinatal mortality rates1 (1992) Number United Kingdom 7.7 Spain 7.3 Austria 6.8 Finland 5.9 Denmark 5.8 Sweden 5.8 Source: Eurostat—Demographic statistics 1996. Note: 1 Stillbirths and deaths within the first week of life per 1,000 live and stillbirths.
Perinatal mortality rates1 (1993) Number United Kingdom 9.1 Ireland 9.0 Germany 7.4 Spain 6.6 Luxembourg 6.3 Austria 6.1 Sweden 5.9 Denmark 5.4 Finland 5.1 Source: Eurostat—Demographic statistics 1996. Note: 1 Stillbirths and deaths within the first week of life per 1,000 live and stillbirths.