§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is her latest estimate of the annual cost to the National Health Service of the treatment of illness caused by smoking;
(2) what is her latest estimate of the annual cost to the National Health Service of the treatment of illness caused by drinking alcohol;
(3) what is her estimate of the annual cost to the National Health Service of the treatment of injuries caused by accidents at work; and how much of the cost is recovered from insurers;
(4) what is her estimate of the annual cost to the National Health Service of the treatment of injuries caused by road accidents; and how much of the cost is recovered from insurers;
(5) what is her latest estimate of the annual cost to the National Health Service of the treatment of injuries caused by accidents in the home; and how much of this cost is recovered from insurers.
§ Dr. OwenAnnual estimates of National Health Service costs of the treatment of illness caused by smoking are not normally made. Estimates of the proportion of the costs due to smoking of the various services engaged in treating smoke-induced diseases are difficult to make and subject to wide error. However, an attempt was made to estimate the total costs incurred in 1970–71 by the hospital, family doctor and pharmaceutical services in Great Britain due to smoking; the resultant estimated figure was £36 million.
A similar estimate of the cost of treatment for alcohol-related illness and accidents and for alcoholism itself is, I regret, not available, but I am seeing whether some estimate can be made but this is likely to take time.
Similarly I regret that the annual costs to the National Health Service of treating injuries caused by accidents at work or by accidents in the home are not separately identified, and when such accidents occur no costs are normally recoverable from insurers.
The full costs to the National Health Service of treating injuries caused by road 303W accidents cannot be established directly, but an estimate based on the latest available information puts the annual expenditure on hospital in-patient and out-patient services for this type of patient at £15.8 million. Approximately £1.2 million of this cost is currently recoverable, principally from insurers.