asked the Minister of Health if he will state the percentage of babies born at home in the county borough of Great Yarmouth for the latest convenient period.

Fifty-five per cent. of live births in 1962.

The figure given by my hon. Friend conflicts slightly with the figure of 62 which I was given. However, in either case, it is an extremely high percentage of births. Is my hon. Friend aware that one of the most important reasons for a young mother to have her child in hospital, if she wishes to particularly, is that it is the one time when she gets some complete rest? Will my hon. Friend therefore look at the position in my constituency which, on the figure I received, is the worst among all the county boroughs and counties in the country? Will he examine it again and see what he can do about it?

I agree with my hon. Friend. The figure is somewhat high, although I should not want it to be thought that having a baby at home, when there are adequate domiciliary services, is necessarily a bad thing. As my hon. Friend knows, there is a strong tradition of home confinements in East Anglia. Nevertheless, he, together with some of my hon. Friends, has been very active in trying to persuade the regional hospital board to do something in this regard. The East Anglia Regional Hospital Board is considering the improvement of facilities for hospital confinements in the Yarmouth and Lowestoft areas.