§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take in response to the recent publication of statistics from the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys longitudinal study showing a 20 per cent. excess of death in unemployed men and their wives.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 12 February 1985, c. 168]: I have studied these research findings carefully. We will continue to monitor research in this field. We are also considering with the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys whether further analysis of the longitudinal study data, including that from the 1981 census now available, would be worthwhile. The Government's priority, however, is to continue to pursue the policies which they believe to be the best way to bring down unemployment, and to continue to meet the health needs of the population.