HC Deb 21 December 1979 vol 976 cc521-2W
Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many old persons died from hypothermia in the years 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78 and 1978–79; and when these figures were available.

Sir George Young

The total numbers of deaths in England and Wales of persons aged 65 and over, with mention of hypothermia anywhere in the death certificate, were as follows:

July 1974-June 1975 413
July 1975-June 1976 435
July 1976-June 1977 570
July 1976-June 1978 583
July 1978-June 1979 657*
* Provisional

The computer tapes from which this information has been derived were available on the following dates.

Calendar year
1974 May 1976
1975 Oct. 1976
1976 Sept. 1977
1977 Sept. 1978
1978 Sept. 1979
1979 (special count)