MISCARRIAGE, PREMATURE BIRTH AND STILLBIRTH

Early day motion 1295, tabled 14 May 2002 by Joan Walley (Labour). Signed by 38 members.

That this House believes that the prevention of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth will reduce the scale of human suffering and that medical research has a vital role to play in achieving this goal; welcomes the findings of the Acheson Report that more priority should be given to women's pregnancy health issues, but is concerned that since the adoption of the NHS plan only neonatal deaths have been prioritised; further welcomes the work the voluntary sector has done to highlight the need for resources and the raising of funds from individuals, companies, charitable trusts and events; calls on the Government to consider how this funding can be matched by adequate access to Government funds through both the Medical Research Council and Department of Health Research and Development funds; and further calls on the Government to make pregnancy safer for both mother and child by allocating funds for research to reduce the incidence of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth in the United Kingdom.

Signatures by party: Labour 26, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 2, UUP 2, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.