§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many sets of(a) twins, (b) triplets, (c) quadruplets, (d) quintuplets and (e) sextuplets were born in Wales in each year from 1990 to 1997; what was the total number of maternities in each year; and how many multiple births of each type in each year were conceived as a result of (i) in-vitro fertilisation, (ii) gamete intra-fallopian transfer and (iii) other forms of assisted conception. [46928]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsThe available information on multiple maternities to Welsh residents recorded by the Office for National Statistics is as follows:
63WThe only information on assisted conceptions leading to multiple births available from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority relates to those treated at licensed clinics in Wales rather than Welsh residents treated. The latest verified data, covering treatments in the period from 1 August 1991 (the start of the HFEA register) to 31 March 1996, record 42 multiple births.