HL Deb 25 June 2004 vol 662 cc160-3WA
Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the incidence of live births of babies weighing less than 2,500 grams in the United Kingdom in 2002 and 2003, and whether they have comparable information for other member states of the European Union and Norway. [HL3272]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, to Lord Morris of Manchester, dated 25 June 2004.

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the incidence of live births of babies weighing less than 2,500 grams was in the United Kingdom in 2002 and 2003, and whether they have comparable information for other member states of the European Union and Norway. [HL3272]

The latest available figures are for 2002.

In 2002 there were 51,015 live births with a birthweight of less than 2,500 grams, representing 7.6% of all live births where a birthweight was stated.

Birthweight data is not published for all member states of the European Union. The most comprehensive figures on birthweight by country are published in the OECD publication "Health at a glance: OECD indicators for 2003". The most recent figures in this publication are for 2000. The table shows figures for Norway and for those European Union countries which supplied data to OECD.

Percentage of births weighing less than 2,500 grams—EU member states and Norway, 2000 (unless stated)
Country Percentage of births
Austria 6.3
Belgium 16.6
Czech Republic 5.8
Denmark 5.9
Finland 4.3
France 6.4
Germany 26.5
Greece 8.1
Hungary 8.4
Ireland 4.8
Italy 16.0
Luxembourg 26.8
Netherlands 24.7
Poland 5.7
Slovak Republic 6.7
Spain 6.5
Sweden 4.2
United Kingdom 7.6
Norway 5.0
1 Figures relate to 1995.
2 Figures relate to 1999.

Incidence of low birthweight by year; 1953 to 2002
Number of live births with low birthweight1
Year of birth United Kingdom Great Britain England & Wales Scotland Northern Ireland % of births with low birthweight2
1953 — — 45,465 — — 6.6
1954 — — 46,018 — — 6.9
1955 — — 46,132 — — 6.9
1956 — — 47,512 — — 6.8
1957 — — 50,168 — — 7.0
1958 — — 50,742 — — 6.8
1959 — — 50,310 — — 6.7
1960 — — 52,633 — — 6.7
1961 — — 54,632 — — 6.7
1962 — — 55,999 — — 6.7
1963 — — 56,172 — — 6.6
1964 — — 55,852 — — 6.4
1965 — — 54,743 — — 6.4
1966 — — 55,205 — — 6.5
1967 — — 53,804 — — 6.5
1968 — — 54,180 — — 6.7
1969 — — 53,406 — — 6.7
1970 — — 53,514 — — 6.8
1971 — — 49,886 — — 6.4
1972 — — 47,941 — — 6.6
1973 — — 43,599 — — 6.5
1974 — — 41,330 — — 6.5
1975 — — 38,612 — — 6.4
1976 — — 37,435 — — 6.4
1977 — — 36,915 — — 6.5
1978 — 28,309 24,320 3,989 — 6.5
1979 — 32,739 28,473 4,266 — 6.7
1980 — 42,619 38,359 4,260 — 6.7
1981 — 43,838 39,549 4,289 — 6.5
1982 45,528 44,041 39,933 4,108 1,487 6.6
1983 47,663 46,285 42,089 4,196 1,378 6.6
1984 48,254 46,806 42,631 4,175 1,448 6.6
1985 50,430 48,994 44,664 4,330 1,436 6.7
1986 51,596 50,060 45,728 4,332 1,536 6.8
1987 52,140 50,863 46,529 4,334 1,277 6.8
1988 — 49,987 45,681 4,306 — 6.6
1989 50,317 49,067 44,978 4,089 1,250 6.7

Member states which did not provide data to the OECD are:

Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovenia.

Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What the annual incidence of low birth weight babies since 1950 in the United Kingdom. [HL3273]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, to Lord Morris of Manchester, dated 25 June 2004.

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the annual incidence of low birthweight babies has been since 1950 in the United Kingdom. (HL3273)

Figures on birthweight are only available since 1953 for any part of the United Kingdom. The latest available figures are for 2002. For England and Wales, figures are available for all years from 1953. For Scotland and Northern Ireland figures were first available in 1978 and 1982 respectively. The attached table shows the available information.

Number of live births with low birthweight1
Year of birth United Kingdom Great Britain England & Wales Scotland Northern Ireland % of births with low birthweight2
1990 51,704 50,372 46,055 4,317 1,332 6.7
1991 52,153 50,775 46,369 4,406 1,378 6.8
1992 50,417 49,154 44,831 4,323 1,263 6.7
1993 50,086 48,651 44,614 4,037 1,435 6.8
1994 50,634 49,325 45,169 4,156 1,309 6.9
1995 50,832 51,445 47,324 4,121 1,387 7.2
1996 52,480 51,104 47,187 3,917 1,376 7.2
1997 53,250 51,858 47,812 4,046 1,392 7.3
1998 52,849 51,478 47,510 3,968 1,371 7.4
1999 52,430 51,010 47,155 3,855 1,420 7.5
2000 50,737 49,424 45,727 3,697 1,313 7.5
2001 50,192 48,884 45,131 3,753 1,308 7.5
2002 51,015 49,670 45,957 3,713 1,345 7.6
1 Low birthweight is, <2501g for 1953 to 1997, <2500g from 1978 onwards.
2 Percentage of births that are low birthweight correspond to England and Wales for 1953 to 1997, Great Britain for 1978 to 1981 and 1988 and United Kingdom for 1982 to 2002 (excl. 1988).

Source:

Data for 1953 to 1981 are from Table A.4.1. Birth Counts, Department of Health. Data from 1982 onwards are from ONS registration data.