I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
The most recent figures relating to the number of babies who are stillborn refer to 1981 when there were 600 such cases. The figures for neo-natal deaths are for 1983 when there were 389 cases.
In the case of neo-natal deaths, that is deaths of liveborn infants aged under 4 weeks, both the birth and the death of the infant are registered and birth certificates or death certificates can be obtained as required.
In the case of babies who are stillborn, the present legislation provides for their notification to the public health authorities and the records are available for medical research. There is no legal provision for the issue of birth certificates for such children. There has not in the past been any obvious need or demand for such provision.
A comprehensive review of registration procedures has recently commenced and the question of whether arrangements should be made which would enable birth certificates to be issued for stillborn children will be considered as part of this review.