To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of low birthweight babies were born in each (i) local and (ii) health authority area in Wales in each of the past 10 years. [81330]
The information readily available on a comparable basis for the 22 unitary authorities and 5 health authorities in Wales, provided by the Office for National Statistics, is for 1990 to 1997 and is given in the table.
Distribution of low birthweight babies by authority
| ||||||||
Health authority/Unitary authority
| 1990
| 1991
| 1992
| 1993
| 1994
| 1995
| 1996
| 1997
|
North Wales
| 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 22 |
| Isle Of Anglesey | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Gwynedd | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Conwy | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Denbighshire | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Flintshire | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Wrexham | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Dyfed Powys
| 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
| Powys | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Ceredigion | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Pembrokeshire | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Carmarthenshire | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
Morgannwg
| 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
| Swansea | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
| Bridgend | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Bro Taf
| 26 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 |
| The Vale of Glamorgan | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Cardiff | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| Rhondda, Cynon, Taff | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Gwent
| 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 |
| Caerphilly | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Blaenau Gwent | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Torfaen | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Newport | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Note:
Figures may not add-up exactly due to rounding
The figures are based on birthweights below 2,500 grammes for all births, excluding cases where no birthweight was stated.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.