§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the excess winter deaths for each region within Great Britain for the last three years, and the forecasts for(a) this winter, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–01; and if he will list the estimated cost to the NHS as a result.[63411]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 14 December 1998]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Rendel, dated 12 January 1999:
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the excess winter deaths for each region within Great Britain for each of the last three years, and the forecasts for (a) this winter, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–2001; and the estimated cost to the NHS as a result.The number of excess winter deaths in each region within Great Britain over the last three winters is given in the table below.
Excess winter deaths by region, Great Britain, 1995–96 to 11997–98 Region 1995–96 1996–97 11997–98 North 2,490 2,620 1,800 Yorkshire and Humberside 4,040 4,550 2,510 East Midlands 2,930 3,540 2,050 East Anglia 1,600 2,140 1,080 South East 13,240 16,450 7,320 South West 4,140 5,060 2,270 West Midlands 4,160 4,530 2,490 North West 5,220 5,960 2,650
136W
Percentage of (a) all live births and (b) singleton live births: with a stated birthweight less than 2,500g England, regional offices and health authorities, 1995–1997 Percentage 1995 1996 1997 All babies less than 2,500g Singletons less than 2,500g All babies less than 2,500g Singletons less than 2,500g All babies less than 2,500g Singletons less than 2,500g England 7.3 6.0 7.3 6.0 7.5 6.1 Northern and Yorkshire 7.7 6.4 7.4 6.1 7.9 6.5 Bradford HA 8.8 7.7 8.7 7.6 9.1 8.0 County Durham HA 7.3 5.8 7.2 5.8 7.8 6.1 East Riding HA 6.9 5.7 7.5 6.2 8.2 6.6 (iii) 2 January 1999 and (iv) 9 January 1999 the number of (a) punishment beatings and (b) shootings which took place in Northern Ireland; and how many in each category were committed by (1) Loyalists and (2) Republicans. [64212]
§ Mr. IngramThe following table shows the number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style attacks for the period 13 December 1998 to 9 January 1999.
Excess winter deaths by region, Great Britain, 1995–96 to 11997–98 Region 1995–96 1996–97 11997–98 Wales 2,440 2,880 1,330 Scotland 3,660 3,640 2,740 1 Provisional The ONS defines excess winter mortality as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average of the number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).
It is not possible to forecast the figures for future winters as excess winter mortality is influenced by many factors such as temperature and the incidence of influenza which cannot be predicted.
Information on the estimated cost to the NHS is not collected by the ONS or the Department of Health.