Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the independent report entitled 'Maternity and neonatal services in East Kent: 'Reading the signals' report', published on 19 October, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of that report's findings; and what steps he is taking to implement that report's recommendations.

The recommendations made in the East Kent report are being reviewed alongside existing work to improve maternity outcomes. The Government has taken time to consider the findings and recommendations set out within the report, to determine how best to take forward the learning into positive changes within the healthcare system. We will be updating the House on our response within the next few weeks.