HC Deb 30 April 2002 vol 384 cc755-6W
Miss Kirkbride

To ask the Secretary of State for Health with regard to the Brent Taylor report on MMR/autism,(a) what type of study was undertaken and for what purpose, (b) how many children were included in the study, (c) if the study was for case-series analysis method, (d) what its findings were on levels of autism and (e) if the raw data collected will be published. [43604]

Yvette Cooper

The third population study that has recently been reported by Taylor et al' involved a review of patients clinical notes linked to independent computerised vaccination records (record-linkage). The key objective of this research was to investigate whether there was any evidence of a 'new variant' form of autism caused or triggered by MMR and associated with bowel problems.

This study examined approximately 500 children with childhood (278) or atypical (195) autism born between 1979 and 1998 in five health districts in north-east London. Of these children, 25 per cent. were reported to have regression and 17 per cent. to have had bowel problems. There was no significant difference in the rates of bowel problems or regression in those who had had MMR vaccine before onset of problems, after onset or who had never had the vaccine. In addition the proportion of autistic children with regression or bowel problems did not change significantly over the period from 1979–98, which included the introduction of MMR in 1988. This study found no evidence to support a 'new variant' form of autism, where MMR vaccination is associated with developmental regression and bowel problems.

1 Taylor B.. Miller E., Lingam R., Andrews N., Simmons A., Stowe J. Measles, mumps and rubella vaccination and bowel problems or developmental regression in children with autism: population study. BMJ 2002, 324;393–6.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the number of cases of autism in East Surrey; and if he will make a statement. [53249]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 29 April 2002]: None. Local statutory authorities are responsible for ensuring that they have sufficient knowledge of local needs and priorities to inform the pattern of services in their area.