asked the Minister of Health how many areas in the British Isles have shown an increase in the mortality rate for children under one year of age for 1947 over 1946.

I regret that this information is not yet available. The figures are expected soon after the middle of the year.

Can the Minister say from any preliminary figures he has seen whether the increase of 9.2 at Dumbarton Burghs, which has been described as "alarming," will be general throughout the country?

I have seen no such figure, and it would be very unwise to alarm anyone by giving such provisional figures.