Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the findings of the study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology on 29 January 2020, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the effect of drinking alcohol during pregnancy on children's (a) intelligence and (b) weight; and if he will take steps to criminalise excessive drinking of alcohol during a known pregnancy.
No discussions have taken place between the Justice Secretary and Health Secretary on this matter. Any decision on whether to criminalise excessive drinking of alcohol during a known pregnancy would be a matter for the Department for Health and Social Care.