Deaths (Hansard, 21 January 1998)

§ Mr. Flynn
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of deaths in each of the last five years resulting from ingesting(a) heroin, (b) alcohol, (c) ecstasy, (d) speed, (e) nicotine, (f) glue, (g) Temazepam, (h) cannabis and (i) LSD. [23390]

Deaths in England and Wales, 1992–96

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

(a) Heroin — 52(10) 88(9) 130(21) 186(35)

Alone — 41(7) 68(7) 106(17) 147(32)

With other drugs² — 11(3) 20(2) 24(4) 39(3)

(b) Alcohol⁵ 3,565 3,550 3,853 4,235 4,489

(c) Ecstasy — 5(2) 22(1) 7(-) 10(2)

Alone — 3(1) 15(1) 4(-) 8(2)

With other drugs² — 2(1) 7(-) 3(-) 2(-)

(d) 'Speed' (Amphetamines) — 22(3) 18(1) 37(3) 29(2)

Alone — 8(-) 6(-) 18(-) 14(1)

With other drugs² — 14(3) 12(1) 19(3) 15(1)

(e) Nicotine (Tobacco-related)⁴ n/a n/a n/a 120,000 n/a

(f) Glue³ 75 57 49 57 n/a

(g) Temazapam — 169(62) 157(47) 133(40) 92(22)

Alone — 60(25) 66(26) 37(16) 32(15)

With other drugs² — 109(37) 91(21) 96(24) 60(7)

(h) Cannabis — 10(3) 10(2) 10(3) 4(2)

Alone — 2(2) 2(-) l(-) -(-)

With other drugs² – 8(1) 8(2) 9(3) 4(2)

(i) LSD — -(-) 1(-) -(-) -(-)

Alone — -(-) -(-) -(-) -(-)

With other drugs² — -(-) 1(-) -(-) -(-)

The figures in brackets are those deaths with a mention of alcohol and are included in the non-bracketed figures.

¹ The route of administration (i.e., whether swallowed, injected, inhaled etc.) of toxic substance is not usually specified on the death certificate. The data above represent all mentions of drugs, however administered, where the death was certified is due to poisoning, drug dependence or non-dependent abuse of drugs.

² If, for example, both heroin and cannabis are mentioned on a death certificate, the death will occur twice in the table, once under 'Heroin with other drugs' and once under 'Cannabis with other drugs'.

³ Data supplied by St. George's Hospital Medical School and are those deaths involving all volatile substances, including glue.

⁴ Data relate to United Kingdom. This is the latest Department of Health estimate.

⁵ Deaths certified as due to alcoholic psychoses, alcohol dependence syndrome, non-dependent abuse of alcohol, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and toxic effects of alcohol.

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of(a) alcohol-related deaths, (b) tobacco-related deaths and (c) cannabis-related deaths in each of the last three years. [23182]

§ 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.
528W

§ Mrs. Liddell
[holding answer 19 January 1998]: 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. Paul Flynn, dated 21 January 1998: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me, as Director of the Office for National Statistics, to answer your recent question asking for the total number of deaths in each of the last five years resulting from ingesting¹ (a) heroin, (b) alcohol, (c) ecstasy, (d) speed, (e) nicotine, (f) glue, (g) temazepam, (h) cannabis and (i) LSD. Data for 1992 may be obtained from Table 10 of "Mortality Statistics: Injury and Poisoning 1992", Series DH4 no. 18, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. This table lists all substances mentioned in the records of deaths assigned to accidental and other poisoning by solid or liquid substances. The attached table shows the remaining data for 1992 and also data for 1993–1996.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 21 January 1998: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me, as Director of the Office for National Statistics, to answer your recent question asking for an estimate of the numbers of (a) alcohol-related deaths, (b) tobacco-related deaths and (c) cannabis-related deaths occurring in each of the last three years.
529W
The following table shows the data for the latest three years for which figures are available:

Deaths occurring in England and Wales, 1994–96

1994 1995 1996

Alcohol-related deaths¹ 3,853 4,235 4,489

Tobacco-related deaths² n/a 120,000 n/a

Cannabis-related deaths³ 10(2) 10(3) 4(2)

Cannabis alone 2(-) 1(-) —(-)

In combination with other drugs 8(2) 9(3) 4(2)

¹ Includes deaths assigned to codes 303, 305.0, 291, 425.5, and 980 of the International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision).

² United Kingdom figures, based on the latest Department of Health estimate.

³ Figures in brackets are those cannabis-related deaths with a mention of alcohol and are already included in the non-bracketed figures. Thus, in 1994, there were 10 deaths of which 2 had a mention of alcohol.

§ Dr. Cable
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how may people have died in the United Kingdom in each of the last 20 years for which figures are available from(a) tobacco-related illness, (b) alcohol-related illness, (c) road traffic accidents and (d) vitamin B6 overdoses; and if he will make a statement. [23512]

§ 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 Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 21 January 1998: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me, as Director of the Office for National Statistics, to reply to your question concerning the numbers of people in the United Kingdom who have died in the last 20 years from (a) tobacco related illness, (b) alcohol related illness, (c) road traffic accidents and (d) vitamin B6 overdoses.
The information requested is shown in the following table.

Deaths in the United Kingdom 1977–1996

Year Tobacco related¹ Alcohol realted Road traffic accidents Vitamin B6 overdoses

1977 n/a 2,718 6,976 n/a

1978 n/a 2,903 7,856 n/a

1979 n/a 3,259 7,024 n/a

1980 n/a 3,297 6,861 n/a

(a) Distribution of households for each income quartile of individuals in Great Britain, split by region

Standard region Bottom quartile Second quartile Third quartile Top quartile (percentages) Total households (=100 per cent.) (millions)

Before housing costs

North (including Cumbria) 30 29 24 16 1.4

Yorkshire and Humberside 29 27 24 21 2.0

North West 28 26 25 21 2.5

East Midlands 27 26 25 22 1.7

West Midlands 27 26 24 23 2.1

East Anglia 23 25 25 27 0.9

Greater London 22 24 20 34 3.0

South East—excluding London 19 22 24 35 4.4

South West 25 27 23 24 2.0

England 25 25 24 27 20.0

Wales 31 28 22 18 1.3

Scotland 29 24 24 22 2.0

Great Britain 25 25 24 26 23.4

530W

Deaths in the United Kingdom 1977–1996

Year Tobacco related¹ Alcohol related Road traffic accidents Vitamin B6 overdoses

1981 n/a 3,275 5,053 n/a

1982 n/a 3,195 6,266 n/a

1983 n/a 3,175 5,979 n/a

1984 n/a 3,349 5,883 n/a

1985 n/a 3,662 5,698 n/a

1986 n/a 3,643 5,681 n/a

1987 n/a 3,833 5,615 n/a

1988 110,000 4,028 5,324 n/a

1989 n/a 4,265 5,601 n/a

1990 n/a 4,405 5,705 n/a

1991 n/a 4,402 5,168 n/a

1992 n/a 4,277 4,729 n/a

1993 n/a 4,316 3,974 0

1994 n/a 4,742 3,794 0

1995 120,000 5,220 3,668 0

1996 n/a 5,663 3,675 0

n/a = data not available.

¹ Health Education Authority estimates supplied by the Department of Health.

Deaths in England and Wales, 1992–96
	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
(a) Heroin	—	52(10)	88(9)	130(21)	186(35)
Alone	—	41(7)	68(7)	106(17)	147(32)
With other drugs²	—	11(3)	20(2)	24(4)	39(3)
(b) Alcohol⁵	3,565	3,550	3,853	4,235	4,489
(c) Ecstasy	—	5(2)	22(1)	7(-)	10(2)
Alone	—	3(1)	15(1)	4(-)	8(2)
With other drugs²	—	2(1)	7(-)	3(-)	2(-)
(d) 'Speed' (Amphetamines)	—	22(3)	18(1)	37(3)	29(2)
Alone	—	8(-)	6(-)	18(-)	14(1)
With other drugs²	—	14(3)	12(1)	19(3)	15(1)
(e) Nicotine (Tobacco-related)⁴	n/a	n/a	n/a	120,000	n/a
(f) Glue³	75	57	49	57	n/a
(g) Temazapam	—	169(62)	157(47)	133(40)	92(22)
Alone	—	60(25)	66(26)	37(16)	32(15)
With other drugs²	—	109(37)	91(21)	96(24)	60(7)
(h) Cannabis	—	10(3)	10(2)	10(3)	4(2)
Alone	—	2(2)	2(-)	l(-)	-(-)
With other drugs²	–	8(1)	8(2)	9(3)	4(2)
(i) LSD	—	-(-)	1(-)	-(-)	-(-)
Alone	—	-(-)	-(-)	-(-)	-(-)
With other drugs²	—	-(-)	1(-)	-(-)	-(-)
The figures in brackets are those deaths with a mention of alcohol and are included in the non-bracketed figures.
¹ The route of administration (i.e., whether swallowed, injected, inhaled etc.) of toxic substance is not usually specified on the death certificate. The data above represent all mentions of drugs, however administered, where the death was certified is due to poisoning, drug dependence or non-dependent abuse of drugs.
² If, for example, both heroin and cannabis are mentioned on a death certificate, the death will occur twice in the table, once under 'Heroin with other drugs' and once under 'Cannabis with other drugs'.
³ Data supplied by St. George's Hospital Medical School and are those deaths involving all volatile substances, including glue.
⁴ Data relate to United Kingdom. This is the latest Department of Health estimate.
⁵ Deaths certified as due to alcoholic psychoses, alcohol dependence syndrome, non-dependent abuse of alcohol, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and toxic effects of alcohol.

Deaths occurring in England and Wales, 1994–96
	1994	1995	1996
Alcohol-related deaths¹	3,853	4,235	4,489
Tobacco-related deaths²	n/a	120,000	n/a
Cannabis-related deaths³	10(2)	10(3)	4(2)
Cannabis alone	2(-)	1(-)	—(-)
In combination with other drugs	8(2)	9(3)	4(2)
¹ Includes deaths assigned to codes 303, 305.0, 291, 425.5, and 980 of the International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision).
² United Kingdom figures, based on the latest Department of Health estimate.
³ Figures in brackets are those cannabis-related deaths with a mention of alcohol and are already included in the non-bracketed figures. Thus, in 1994, there were 10 deaths of which 2 had a mention of alcohol.

Deaths in the United Kingdom 1977–1996
Year	Tobacco related¹	Alcohol realted	Road traffic accidents	Vitamin B6 overdoses
1977	n/a	2,718	6,976	n/a
1978	n/a	2,903	7,856	n/a
1979	n/a	3,259	7,024	n/a
1980	n/a	3,297	6,861	n/a

(a) Distribution of households for each income quartile of individuals in Great Britain, split by region
Standard region	Bottom quartile	Second quartile	Third quartile	Top quartile (percentages)	Total households (=100 per cent.) (millions)
Before housing costs
North (including Cumbria)	30	29	24	16	1.4
Yorkshire and Humberside	29	27	24	21	2.0
North West	28	26	25	21	2.5
East Midlands	27	26	25	22	1.7
West Midlands	27	26	24	23	2.1
East Anglia	23	25	25	27	0.9
Greater London	22	24	20	34	3.0
South East—excluding London	19	22	24	35	4.4
South West	25	27	23	24	2.0
England	25	25	24	27	20.0
Wales	31	28	22	18	1.3
Scotland	29	24	24	22	2.0
Great Britain	25	25	24	26	23.4