HC Deb 03 July 1956 vol 555 cc1142-3
28. Mrs. Mann

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which cities and large burghs in Scotland incur the highest death rate from accidents in the home.

Mr. J. N. Browne

Of the four cities Dundee, with 38 deaths per 100,000 population, and of the twenty large burghs Greenock, with 41 deaths per 100,000 had the highest death rates from accidents in the home in the year 1955

Mrs. Mann

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether Dundee and Greenock are aware that the death rate is two deaths in the home to every one on the road? If they have not home safety committees, will the hon. Gentleman see that they set up such committees and undertake some propaganda in their burghs?

Mr. Browne

Dundee has an accident prevention committee, but Greenock has not, although the local health authority distributes leaflets through the maternity and child welfare service and the health visitors. My right hon. Friend hopes that all local authorities which have not already done so will encourage the setting up of accident prevention committees and give them assistance through the local health organisation.

Mr. Woodburn

As there have been very distressing accidents of this kind in recent times, would the hon. Gentleman consider a special effort being made in the schools to get children to realise the dangers which occur? I am quite sure that, with the holidays approaching, it would be a good idea to bring this matter to the notice of children, with some good illustrations.

Mr. Browne

Yes, my right hon. Friend will try to do everything he can to help to publicise these accidents at home. Falls constitute the largest single cause of fatal accidents, and they occur mainly among elderly people. Of the 1,120 accidents in 1955, accidental falls accounted for 48 per cent., and out of those 535 there were 479 amongst people aged 65 years or over.

Captain Duncan

Can my hon. Friend tell me where he gets those figures from? Do they come from the Inter-Departmental Committee? If so, are they published?

Mr. Browne

The reports are not published; and we gather statistics wherever we can from the local authorities concerned.