HC Deb 30 April 1998 vol 311 cc220-1W
Mr. Tredinnick

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have died as a result of taking vitamin B supplements in each of the last 20 years. [39877]

Mrs. Liddell

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Tredinnick, dated 30 April 1998: As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary question on how many people have died as a result of taking vitamin B supplements in each of the last 20 years. Between 1993 and 1997 (the latest year for which data are available; 1997 data are provisional) there were no deaths in England and Wales certified as due in part or whole to taking vitamin B supplements. Data for earlier years are only available at disproportionate cost.