§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many babies(a) died and (b) were stillborn as a result of pre-eclampsia in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [127447]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 8 September 2003:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the number of babies that (a) died or (b) were stillborn as a result of pre-eclampsia, during the last twelve months for which figures are available. (127447)In January 1986, with the introduction of a neonatal and stillbirth certificate in England and Wales, it is no longer possible to identify a single underlying cause of death, as equal weighting is given to the main conditions in the infant and the mother.In England and Wales for 2001, 60 babies under the age of one and 123 stillbirths had a mention of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia on the death certificate. including Hemolysis anaemia, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count syndrome.There were also 17 babies under the age of one and 37 stillbirths that had a mention of pregnancy induced hypertension which was not specified as eclampsia or pre-eclampsia.