HC Deb 12 February 1985 vol 73 cc162-6W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report for each of the last 10 years the number of children who have been fatally poisoned in the United Kingdom; and if he will disaggregate the figures by whatever information on age grouping that is available to him.

Mr. John Patten

The available information is given in the tables:

Number of deaths from poisonings to children aged under 15 years, by external cause of poisoning 1974 to 1983 (United Kingdom)
ICD cause (see key) 1974 Total ages 0–14 1975 Total ages 0–14 1976 Total ages 0–14 1977 Total ages 0–14 1978 Total ages 0–14 1979 Total ages 0–14 1980 Total ages 0–14 1981 Total ages 0–14 1982 Total ages 0–14 1983 Total ages 0–14
E850 Male 23 15 13 10 10 14 11 19 18 9
E869 Female 10 16 10 10 13 14 11 18 13 5
E890.1,2 + Male .. .. .. .. .. 36 49 35 34 44
E891.1, 2 Female .. .. .. .. .. 30 44 24 28 44
E950 Male 1 1 3 4 1 1
E952 Female 1 2 3 5 1 3 1 2 1 2
E962 Male 7 2 5 4 2 2 3 3 2
E962 Female 6 2 5 6 3 2 8 2 1
E980 Male 1 1 4 1 2 1
E982 Female 3 3 3 4 6 4 3 2 1

Numbers of deaths from poisonings to children aged under 15 years, by external cause of poisoning and age, 1974 to 1983 (United Kingdom)
1974
ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E850 Male 1 15 3 4
E869 Female 5 2 3
E890.1, 2+ Male .. .. .. ..
E891.1,2 Female .. .. .. ..
E950 Male
E952 Female 1
E962 Male 4 2 1
E962 Female 2 3 1
E980 Male 1
E982 Female 3

1975
ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E850 Male 11 4
E869 Female 1 11 2 2
E890.1,2 + Male .. .. .. ..
E891.1,2 Female .. .. .. ..
E950 Male 1
E952 Female 2
E962 Male 1 1
E962 Female 1 1
E980 Male 1
E982 Female

1976
ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E850 Male 1 8 2 2
E869 Female 1 6 2 1
E890.1,2 + Male .. .. .. ..
E891.1,2 Female .. .. .. ..
E950 Male 1

ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E952 Female 3
E962 Male
E962 Female 4 1
E980 Male
E982 Female 3

1977
ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E850 Male 8 2
E869 Female 1 5 3 1
E890.1, 2 + Male .. .. .. ..
E891.1,2 Female .. .. .. ..
E950 Male
E952 Female 5
E962 Male 1 3 1
E962 Female 1 1 3 1
E980 Male 1 3
E982 Female 1 2

1978
ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E850 Male 1 6 3
E869 Female 10 3
E890.1, 2 + Male .. .. .. ..
E891.1,2 Female .. .. .. ..
E950 Male 3
E952 Female 1
E962 Male 2 2
E962 Female 2 1
E980 Male 1
E982 Female 1 3

1979
ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E850 Male 2 5 2 5
E869 Female 1 5 1 7
E890.1, 2 + Male 2 17 11 6
E891.1, 2 Female 3 11 8 8
E950 Male 4
E952 Female 3
E962 Male 2
E962 Female 1 1
E980 Male 1 1
E982 Female 1 5

1980
ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E850 Male 2 3 1 5
E869 Female 1 6 1 3
E890.1, 2 + Male 1 28 14 6
E891.1, 2 Female 5 20 15 4
E950 Male
E952 Female 1
E962 Male 2
E962 Female
E980 Male
E982 Female 1 2 1
1981
ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E850 Male 1 6 2 10
E869 Female 1 3 4 10
E890.1,2+ Male 3 24 7 2
E891.1,2 Female 3 15 3 3
E950 Male
E952 Female 1 1
E962 Male 1 2
E962 Female 2 5 1
E980 Male 1
E982 Female 2 1

1982
ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E850 Male 2 8 1 7
E869 Female 2 1 3 7
E890.1, 2+ Male 5 18 6 5
E891.1, 2 Female 6 10 6 6
E950 Male 1
E952 Female 1
E962 Male 1 2
E962 Female 2

ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E980 Male
E982 Female 2

1983
ICD cause (see key) Under 1 1–4 5–9 10–14
E850 Male 1 2 6
E869 Female 1 1 2 1
E890.1,2+ Male 1 26 10 7
E891.1, 2 Female 8 21 13 2
E950 Male 1
E952 Female 2
E962 Male 2
E962 Female 1
E980 Male
E982 Female 1

Key:
E850—E869 Accidental poisoning by all solid and liquid substances, gases and vapours.
E890.1,2 Accidental poisoning by fumes and carbon
E891.1,2 monoxide from fires in buildings.
E950-E952 Suicide by poisoning.
E962 Assault by poisoning.
E980-E982 Poisonings, undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted.
.. Not available.