§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the increase in the number of babies who are born with disabilities; and what factors have caused this. [HL3455]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe Office for National Statistics National Congenital Anomaly System collects information on live born babies and stillbirths with congenital anomalies, primarily to detect changes in the frequency of reporting of congenital anomalies rather than to estimate exact prevalence at birth. Over the last 10 years there have been both increases and 99WA decreases in the numbers and rates of selected conditions. Despite the success of introducing folic acid as a dietary supplement in pregnancy to reduce the incidence of Spina Bifida, our understanding of the causative agents for all these conditions is incomplete and efforts to further a better understanding will continue.
§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What data they have collected on the impact of the use of recreational drugs by young mothers and an increase in oestrogen-like substances in the diet as contributory factors in the rise in birth defects. [HL3456]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe data requested are not collected centrally.