§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East on 6th February 1975, she will now collect figures to enable her to estimate (a) the number of people whose death could be attributed in whole or in part, respectively, to inadequate heating of their home, (b) the number of people whose admission to hospital, or delayed discharge from it, was in whole or in part due to inadequate heating of their home, and (c) the number of old, poor, chronically sick and disabled people and families whose homes are inadequately heated in winter; and whether she has taken steps in the interim to improve the information available to her on these matters.
§ Mr. MeacherAs my predecessor indicated in his reply to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Mr. Smith) on 20th March—[Vol. 888, c.509.]—few deaths each year are attributable solely to hypothermia. But those in which hypothermia is mentioned on the death certificate in conjunction with other causes vary between 250 and 400. The availability of financial help to the needy through the supplementary benefits scheme has been brought to the notice of social services and other agencies who may be in touch with those at risk. I do not think therefore, that any useful purpose would be served in seeking the kind of information my hon. 535W Friend suggests, assuming that it was feasible to do so.