§ Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish figures giving the known incidence of cases of alcoholism in Scotland; and what steps his Department is taking to educate young people on the hazards to health involved in the excessive consumption of alcohol.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThere is no reliable estimate of the total number of persons in Scotland suffering from alcoholism; but the number of admissions to mental hospitals and psychiatric units of patients suffering from alcoholism or alcoholic 207W psychosis in each of the five years to 1976 was:
Alcoholism Alcoholic psychosis Male Female Male Female Total 1972 … … … … 3,249 831 146 56 4,282 1973 … … … … 3,751 1,015 171 64 5,001 1974 … … … … 4,120 1,042 190 65 5,417 1975 … … … … 4,006 1,136 222 74 5,438 1976 … … … … 3,869 1,214 202 68 5,353 On the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave on 18th March 1977 to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat)—[Vol. 928, c. 321–2.] The list of measures then given will shortly be supplemented by two television "fillers" prepared by the Scottish Health Education Unit at a cost of £9,700.