Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce (1) maternal deaths, and (2) stillborn and neonatal mortality rates.

While the vast majority of births in England are safe, we know there is more to be done to reduce maternal deaths, stillborn, and neonatal mortality rates.

That is why my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, asked Baroness Amos to lead an independent investigation into National Health Service maternity and neonatal care to help us understand the systemic issues behind why so many women, babies, and families experience unacceptable care. The investigation will publish its final report and recommendations in June 2026.

The Government has also set up a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The taskforce will address the recommendations of the investigation by developing a new national action plan to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care.

We are not waiting to take action. We are rolling out guidance to tackle the leading causes of maternal death, introduced a new system that will monitor the rates of term stillbirth, neonatal death, and brain injury, and the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle is being implemented by trusts.