Written question asked by Audrey Wise (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 February 2000. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Monday, 14 February 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the number of births of babies born to residents of England weighing (a) under 1,000g, (b) 1,000-1,499g, (c) 1,500-2,499g and (d) 2,500g and over, who have been diagnosed as having cerebral palsy by the age of (i) two years and (ii) five years in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. - Including fact that there are no centrally collected data.

Answer: Audrey Wise: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of births of babies born to residents of England weighing (a) under 1,000g, (b) 1,000-1,499g, (c) 1,500-2,499g and (d) 2,500g and over, who have been diagnosed as having cerebral palsy by the age of (i) two years and (ii) five years in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [108677] Yvette Cooper: There are no centrally collected data on the numbers of children in England with cerebral palsy. We are aware however that the risk of cerebral palsy among babies born weighing less than 1,500 grammes is 70 times higher than among babies weighing 2,500 grammes or more at birth.

Secondary information