SPINA BIFIDA

Early day motion 359, tabled 28 October 1997 by Helen Clark (Labour). Signed by 118 members.

That this House notes that the UK has a high incidence of spina bifida pregnancies, and urges Her Majesty's Government to follow the example of the United States in legislating to require the fortification of flour with folic acid, a safe and cheaply available vitamin which can prevent 75 per cent of spina bifida pregnancies, that the important research on this subject was completed in 1991 by the UK's Medical Research Council, and that measures should now be taken here to fortify flour in the interests of less privileged members of society, in preventing severe disability and the need for many elective terminations of pregnancy which are distressing for the parents and expensive for the NHS.

Signatures by party: Labour 83, Liberal Democrat 17, Conservative 4, Labour/Co-operative 4, UUP 4, Scottish National Party 2, DUP 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UKUP 1.