asked the Secretary of Slate for Social Services (1) if he will abandon the proposed cuts in maternity services; and if he will improve the services for pregnant women and unborn babies;(2) if he is considering the closure of inefficient maternity units with a higher than average perinatal infant mortality and neo-natal death rate; and if he will make a statement.

The Department is committed to maintaining and improving the quality of care for mothers and babies throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Responsibility for providing maternity services rests with health authorities and I expect them to keep the standard of their services under careful review. The closure of any maternity unit must always be considered in the light of local circumstances. Where a particular unit has been found to be in- efficient I would expect the health authority concerned to take appropriate action.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will create first-class maternity special and intensive care facilities for the newborn in every health district; and if he will make a statement.

The provision of services for mothers and babies before, during and after delivery is a matter for individual health authorities, which must determine levels of provision according to local needs and resources. Normally, a consultant maternity unit and special care baby unit would be provided in every district general hospital—or equivalent. Intensive care facilities for the newly born are required by a small proportion of babies whose highly specialised needs can best be met in a number of regional units where the substantial numbers of medical, nursing and supporting staff and specialised equipment required can most effectively be concentrated.