asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action was taken by his Department when the first and second deaths at Perivale Maternity Hospital were reported to his Department.

My Department does not take action on individual reports of maternal deaths. As I have already informed my hon. Friend these are matters initially for the Area Health Authority. Confidential reports on maternal deaths are sent first to the regional obstetric assessor and subsequently to the Department for assessment and comment by the consultant advisers on obstetrics. They are included in the "Report on Confidential Enquiries in England and Wales" published every three years.