§ 70. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many working days were lost as a result of illness caused by cigarette smoking in the last year for which figures are available; and what was the cost to the nation in sickness benefit.
§ Dr. OwenThe information available relates to days of incapacity for work recorded in connection with national insurance claims. This information does not include the underlying cause or causes of the incapacity. Recorded days of incapacity for the three main groups of diseases which have been commonly associated with smoking, during the year 3rd June 1974 to 31st May 1975, are as follows:
126W The cost of these days in terms of sickness and invalidity benefit expenditure—based on an average benefit rate and an "average" beneficiary—was approximately £41 million.
- Lung cancer (ICD 162, 163): 60,000.
- Chronic bronchitis and Emphysema (ICD 491, 492): 10 million.
- Coronary heart disease (ICD 410, 414): 6¾ million.
- Total: About 17 million.