HC Deb 14 July 1981 vol 8 cc371-2W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish a table showing for Scotland the rates per 1,000 live births for social classes (a) I and II, (b) III, (c) IV, and V for (i) stillbirths, (ii) neonatal deaths, and (iii) deaths under one year;

(2) if he will publish a table showing the percentage change in the rates per 1,000 live births for social classes (a) I and II, (b) III,(c) IV, and (d) V for (i) stillbirths, (ii) neonatal deaths and (iii) deaths under one year in Scotland between 1970 and the latest available year.

Mr. Fairgrieve

The latest year for which the information is available is 1979. The rates for 1970, for 1979 and the percentage improvement between 1970 and 1979 are given in the following table.

Stillbirth, neonatal death and infant death rates per 1,000 live births

by social class, Scotland, 1970, 1979 and 1970–1979 percentage

change
Social class 1970 1979 1970–79 percentage change
Stillbirths I and II 11.4 5.5 52
III 13.9 6.8 51
IV 16.0 7.3 54
V 16.9 10.4 38
Neonatal deaths I and II 8.9 7.1 20
III 12.3 7.7 37
IV 14.3 8.4 41
V 18.8 12.3 35
Infant deaths* I and II 12.0 10.0 17
III 18.6 11.5 38
IV 22.1 11.4 48
V 31.9 19.0 40
* Deaths under one year.

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the standard mortality rate (a) by sex and (b) in social classes I-V.

Mr. Fairgrieve

The most recent information is drawn from the 1969–73 study of occupational mortality, based on the 1971 census of population. This information is given in the following table:

Standardised Mortality Ratios
Social Class Males (aged 15 and over) Married Females (aged 15 and over) Single Females (aged 20 to 64)
I 83 76 91
II 89 83 79
III (Non Manual) 105 96 93

Social Class Males (aged 15 and over) Married Females (aged 15 and over) Single Females (aged 20 to 64)
III (Manual) 124 118 111
IV 111 120 120
V 114 105 108
All classes 100 100 100

Note: Census information on the former occupation—from which social class is derived—of retired, unmarried females is very incomplete. The classification of married females is based on the husband's occupation.