Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidance for multiple pregnancies; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines. These are good practice guidance, developed by experts, intended to support maternity service commissioners and providers with the delivery of evidence-based care. It is for local maternity care providers to determine how best to deliver services for women with multiple pregnancies in their area. In doing so we would expect them to give due regard to NICE guidance.