§ 4. Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the latest statistics of deaths resulting from the five most lethal diseases.
§ Mr. AlisonYes, Sir.
§ Mr. EadieThe hon. Gentleman has not been very helpful. Is he aware that there is a feeling in the country, which is documented in various ways, that the disease of alcoholism is rapidly mounting to the top in the league of lethal diseases? Will he consider doing something about this matter, particularly as the Government have introduced legislation to sell State pubs?
§ Mr. AlisonI can anticipate the view which the hon. Gentleman will presently get of the list by telling him that alcoholism is not in the list of the first five killers. We do, however, take an extremely serious view of the health hazard of alcoholism, and the hon. Gentleman will recall that my right hon. Friend has made special financial provisions to pursue remedies in this direction.
§ Following is the information:
| THE FIVE MOST COMMON OF DEATH IN GREAT BRITAIN IN 1969 | ||
| Cause | Deaths | Death rate per million |
| Males | ||
| 1 Ischaemic heart disease (ICD 410–414) | 90,894 | 3,463 |
| 2 Malignant neoplasms (ICD 140–209) | 68,739 | 2,619 |
| 3 Cerebrovascular disease (ICD 430–438) | 35,178 | 1,340 |
| 4 Bronchitis, emphysema and asthma (ICD 490–493) | 27,235 | 1,038 |
| 5 Pneumonia (ICD 480–486) | 20,062 | 764 |
| Cause | Deaths | Death rate per million |
| Females | ||
| 1 Ischaemic heart disease (ICD 410–414) | 66,357 | 2,389 |
| 2 Malignant neoplasms (ICD 140–209) | 58,541 | 2,108 |
| 3 Cerebrovascular disease (ICD 430–438) | 54,650 | 1,968 |
| 4 Pneumonia (ICD 480–486) | 23,805 | 857 |
| 5 Other forms of heart disease (ICD 420–429) | 20,203 | 727 |