§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of people who have died from smoking-related diseases in Scotland for each year since 1979; and if he will provide a breakdown by(a) sex, (b) age, (c) socio-economic class and (d) health board area. [17857]
§ Mr. Galbraith[holding answer 1 December 1997]: It is not possible to be precise, but in 1992 it was estimated that some 10,600 people in Scotland died each year from smoking-related diseases, including lung cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke. No later official Scottish estimate has been made. The figure was based on estimates of the proportions of deaths from smoking-related diseases that were directly attributable to smoking. It would not be appropriate to apply these general proportions to the various sub-groups mentioned in the Question.