§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the incidence of gastroschisis per 1,000 births for each health authority for the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [17279]
(2) how many cases of gastroschisis per 1,000 births there were in each year since 1970. [17280]
§ Mr. Gwilym Jones[holding answer 24 February 1997]: The available information is given in the following table. Data refer to anomalies of abdominal wall which include exomphalos, gastroschisis and prune belly (syndrome). Data for gastroschisis alone are available only at disproportionate cost. Data are shown from 1979, as before this date they were not available on a comparable basis. Rates are calculated per 10,000 live or still births. It should be noted that notification of congenital abnormalities is on a voluntary basis and, therefore, data may underestimate the true position. Terminations are not included.
Abdominal wall defects1 Number notified Rate 1979 9 2.5 1980 7 1.9 1981 7 1.9 1982 11 3.1 1983 9 2.5 1984 5 1.4 1985 4 1.1 1986 10 2.7 1987 6 1.6 1988 7 1.8 1989 8 2.1 1990 7 1.8 1991 9 2.4 1992 6 1.6 1993: Clwyd 1 2.0 East Dyfed 1 4.0 Gwent 1 1.6 Gwynedd — — Mid Glamorgan 5 6.9 Pembrokeshire — — Powys 1 7.1 South Glamorgan 1 1.8 West Glamorgan — — Wales 10 2.7 1 International Classification of Diseases 9th revision code 756.7.