HC Deb 22 November 1983 vol 49 cc136-7W
Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of numbers of persons in Wales who are suffering from chronic illness; what percentage, according to the 1981 census, of men in Wales aged 50–64 years are described as being unable to offer themselves as being available for work because of permanent illness.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

The term "chronic illness" is not precise enough to enable any meaningful estimate of its prevalence to be made, but in the 1981 census of population 12.6 per cent. of males resident in Wales aged 50–64 were categorised as being "permanently sick or disabled"