Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 29 July 2020 to Question 75237, what definition of birth applies in the guidance produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on women being encouraged to have a birth partner present during any type of labour and birth.

There is no definition of birth included in guidance produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists but the guidance is clear that women should be encouraged to have one birth partner, who has no symptoms of COVID-19, present with them during any type of labour and birth, unless the birth occurs under general anaesthetic.