§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has for any stated period of time on the numbers of persons seeking hospital treatment, the number of hospital beds occupied, the costs of treatment, and the deaths resulting from heart and lung disease caused or aggravated by smoking, drinking or overeating.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergIt is not possible to be precise about the extent to which morbidity and mortality from heart and lung disease can be attributed to any particular factor such as smoking, drinking or overeating. So far as overeating is concerned, the effects cannot reliably be quantified at the present time. In the case of smoking, the188W Department estimates that in England and Wales in 1979, the latest year for which figures are available, some 24,000–90 per cent.—of the male and some 3,000—or 40 per cent.—of the female deaths from cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung can be attributed to smoking, as can 12,000—or 75 per cent.—of male and 3,400—or 60 per cent.—of female deaths from bronchitis and emphysema, and also some 7,200—or 25 per cent.—of male and 1,500—or 20 per cent.—of female deaths from coronary heart disease in the under-65 age group and a smaller percentage of such deaths in older people. The Department also estimates that at November 1981 prices the cost of treating diseases attributable to smoking is about £155 million per year, whilst the cost of treating alcohol-related diseases is between £70 million and £95 million per year.