MEDICAL RESEARCH AND THE PREVENTION OF MISCARRIAGE

Early day motion 1365, tabled 21 May 2002 by Joan Walley (Labour). Signed by 39 members.

That this House believes that the prevention of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth will reduce the scale of human suffering; further believes 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; 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 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 27, Liberal Democrat 6, Conservative 2, Labour/Co-operative 2, UUP 2.