§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the incidence of (a) males and (b) females suffering from anorexia nervosa in Northern Ireland; how many persons have died from this condition in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what position this illness occupies in table showing causes of death in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. John PattenI would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to his question on 19 June. The table below shows the number of(a) males and (b) females admitted to hospitals in Northern Ireland from 1975 to 1979, the latest year for which information is available, where anorexia nervosa was the principal factor in their admission.
Year Males Females Total 1975 1(1)* 14(10) 15(11) 1976 —(—) 27(15) 27(15) 1977 —(—) 24(11) 24(11) 1978 1(1) 34(25) 35(26) 1979 1(—) 30(19) 31(19) * Figure in brackets refer to first admissions. Information is not available in the number of people who died from the disorder and its position on the death causation tables is not therefore known.