§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in(a) life expectancy and (b) infant mortality in the last 10 years in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) other OECD countries.
§ Mr. SackvilleDeath rates in almost every age and sex group in the United Kingdom have been steadily declining over the period 1982 to 1991. This has resulted in increases in life expectancy.
From 1982 to 1991 the United Kingdom life expectancy at birth has increased: males from 71.1 years in 1982 to 73.3 years in 1991, an increase of 2.2 years; and females from 77.0 years in 1982 to 78.8 years in 1991, an increase of 1.8 years. For the same period the United Kingdom infant mortality rate has decreased from 1,098.1, per 100,000 livebirths, in 1982 to 735.0 in 1991, a decrease of 33 per cent. Further information is shown in the table.
The information for other Organisation of Economic Co-operation Development countries will be placed in the Library. 827W
Life expectancy and infant mortality rate for the United Kingdom 1982–1991 1Life expectancy Infant mortality Year Males Females 2Rate 1982 71.1 77.0 11.0 1983 71.4 77.2 10.2 1984 71.5 77.4 9.6 1985 71.7 77.5 9.4 1986 71.9 77.6 9.5 1987 72.2 77.9 9.1 1988 72.4 78.0 9.0 1989 72.7 78.3 8.4 1990 73.0 78.5 7.9 1991 73.3 78.8 7.4 1 At birth. 2 Per 1,000 livebirths. Source:
Population Trends (Tables 8 and 12), for 1982–1990.
World Health Organisation Statistics Volume 1992, for 1991.