§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of drug-related deaths that occurred in each year since 1997. [5761]
§ Mr. BoatengThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 20 July 2001:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer about what estimate he has made of the number of drug related deaths that occurred in 1998; and what estimates he has made for each subsequent year. I am replying in his absence. (5761)The number of deaths in England and Wales certified as being due to drug related poisoning was 2922 in 1998 and 2943 in 1999. Figures for 2000 are not yet available.Deaths are coded according to the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision (ICD-9). Deaths are regarded as resulting from drug related poisoning if the underlying cause is classified to ICD-9 codes 292, 304, 305.2–305.9, E850–E858, E950.0–E950.5, E980.0–E980.5, E962.0. The figures are obtained from 'Deaths related to drug poisoning: England and Wales, 1995–1999' Health Statistics Quarterly No 9, p70–7.