§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) cot deaths and (b) sudden infant death syndrome deaths were recorded in (i) 2003, (ii) 2002, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2000, (v) 1999, (vi) 1998 and (vii) 1997. [152031]
§ Ruth KellyI have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Mr. Len Cook to Mr. Tim Loughton, dated 2 February 2004:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many a) cot deaths, and b) 'sudden infant death syndrome' deaths were recorded in (i) 2003, (ii) 2002, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2000, (v) 1999, (vi) 1998 and (vii) 1997. (152031)
In England and Wales the terms 'cot death' and 'Sudden Infant Death Syndrome' are used synonymously in classifying cause of death in babies. In producing figures ONS uses a broad definition of "sudden infant death". This includes any mention of "sudden infant death", "cot death", "crib death", "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome" or some similar term on the death certificate.
The latest available figures are for 2002. Figures since 1997 are given below.
Sudden infant 1 deaths, England and Wales, 1997–2002 Numbers Rates2 1997 393 0.61 1998 289 0.45 1999 280 0.45 2000 246 0.41 2001 240 0.40 20023 187 0.31 1Babies less than one year old. 2Rate per 1,000 live births. 3Provisional. Further information is available in two Health Statistics Quarterly articles: HSQ 10—Are unascertained deaths the same as sudden infant deaths?' and `HSQ 19—Sudden infant deaths, 2002', which are available on the national statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=6725.