Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to reduce the number of births by caesarean section in the UK.

The Government expects that caesarean sections are managed in accordance with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Guideline CG132, “Caesarean Section”, published in November 2011. This guideline does not seek to define acceptable caesarean rates. Rather it recommends that if a woman requests a caesarean section without clinical indication, a discussion about the risks and benefits of caesarean section compared with vaginal birth should take place with members of the maternity team, including the midwife, obstetrician and anaesthetist. This will enable all aspects of her wishes and circumstances to be taken into account and ensure the risks and benefits to the mother and baby are properly understood.