HC Deb 18 March 1996 vol 274 cc1-2
1. Mr. Simon Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on progress in reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease in Wales. [19373]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Rod Richards)

The death rate from this disease has fallen by 11 per cent. since the mid-1980s.

Mr. Coombs

I am sure that the whole House wishes to congratulate the Welsh rugby team on its excellent victory on Saturday—a victory over the French that was as rare as it was helpful.

My hon. Friend has given the House excellent figures on the reduction in the level of coronary heart disease in Wales in the past 10 years or so. I am sure that he agrees that those figures should be regarded with anything but complacency as they are still far too high. What more can be done in Wales to reduce the level of heart disease, either in terms of hospital treatment of those affected or in terms of the promotion of a healthy diet and exercise?

Mr. Richards

I thank my hon. Friend for his remarks about the magnificent victory of the Welsh rugby team over France at the national stadium last Saturday. I am sure that he wants to join me in thanking the Welsh rugby team for giving the English rugby team the helping hand it needed to win the championship.

My hon. Friend's comments about the Government's measures to improve the treatment for coronary disease in Wales are also most welcome. I am sure that he will be delighted to know that, in October 1997, a new cardiac unit, which will be capable of performing an additional 600 adult open-heart operations a year, will be opened in Morriston.

Mr. Rogers

As a positive step towards reducing the number of heart attacks among the Welsh population, will the Minister join me in criticising the leader of Cardigan council, who wants to exclude anyone from building houses in Cardigan unless they were born within 25 miles of the boundary? Does he agree that that statement, besides causing a lot of heart attacks among the 95 per cent. of the population who would be precluded from living in Cardiganshire, is either lunatic nationalism or racism at its worst?

Mr. Richards

I am not aware of any remarks made by any leader of any political group in Cardiganshire that have affected the incidence of heart disease either in Cardiganshire or anywhere else in Wales.

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