FOI REF: FOI/2023/4968
You asked
Can you please provide me with the infant mortality birth tables for England and Wales for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.
We said
Thank you for your request.
The latest available data for Infant mortality birth tables is published as part of the following publication: Child and infant mortality in England and Wales.
2021 is the latest data available.
In 2021, the infant mortality in England and Wales was 3.7 deaths per 1,000 live births.
In 2020, the infant mortality in England and Wales was 3.6 deaths per 1,000 live births.
2022 data will be published early 2024.
As such, the requested information for 2022 is exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. As a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.
For further information please contact Health.Data@ons.gov.uk