Maternity Safety Strategy

Sarah Wollaston Excerpts

Tuesday 28th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. This is an extremely important and sensitive matter, and we appreciate the statement on it. However, the business to follow—the final day of debate on the Budget—is also extremely important, and no fewer than 67 right hon. and hon. Members have indicated a wish to speak. Exceptionally, therefore, I may not feel able to call everybody on this statement. In any event, there is a premium on brevity from Back Benchers and Front Benchers alike.

[Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Con)]

I warmly welcome the Secretary of State’s announcements today, including the move to allow coroners to investigate full-term stillbirths. Will he set out the current waiting time for post-mortems for infants because, as he will be aware, there is a shortage of the very highly specialised pathologists who carry out this vital work?

[Mr Hunt]

I do not have that information to hand, but I will find out for my hon. Friend and let her know.